The visitor does not hand over his basket of First Fruits; he first shares it with the Temple representative. This is not a ceremony of give and take but of sharing.

For the Judeo-Christian tradition, the answer is found in Genesis: By biting into the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve distanced themselves from God and became ashamed of their nakedness.

The bountiful other fruit trees, the vast garden with rivers, lakes and streams, the promise of eternal life—all of this Adam gives up to eat that darned apple. It’s such a human mistake. Adam ...

Eve took of the fruit and ate, and gave to Adam to eat. ‘And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.’ ...

Eve took of the fruit and ate, and gave to Adam to eat. ‘And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.’ ...