Parshas Shekelim is
the first of what is called the arba parshas (four Torah readings – (ארבע פרשות. It is read on the Shabbos before the
month of Adar, and marks the time that we begin to think about Passover. Its
source is the first Mishna is Mesechta Shekelim which states on the first of
Adar we take up a collection for the repair of roads, other public facilities,
and engage in a general clean-up. The idea is that there will be many who will
be travelling to Jerusalem to observe the holiday and this is the time to start
preparations.
On Purim the halacha
is to donate three half shekel coins. Some say this is the fulfillment of the
Biblical commandment to donate a half shekel every year. Maimonides, however,
rules it is only an obligation when the Temple is standing. The popular
practice is to donate three coins, preferably silver, that are half the
currency denomination of the national government. In Israel many will put three
coins of a half shekel each into a pushka (charity box). Because the shekel in
ancient times was silver, another popular practice is to have a bowl soliciting
funds for a particular charitable organization with three silver half dollars
in it. A person will then put one and a half shekels into the bowl and take out
the half dollars as change, then place these three coins back into the bowl as
a donation.
The maftir (additional
Torah reading) for parshas Shekelim is Exodus 30:11-16. In it HaKadosh Baruch
Hu tells Moshe Rabenu how to take a census of the nation of Israel. A straight
count is prohibited; rather every man over twenty is to give a half shekel to
be used in the Temple. A simple calculation based on the total will yield the
population. It’s often called a ransom and the Chumash reckons is as a reminder
before Hashem to atone for their souls. The passage is part of the instructions
on how to build the Temple.
In the book of
Nehemiah the Jews returning to the holy land from exile in Babylon promise to
make an annual contribution to pay for community sacrifices and all of the work
of the Temple of G-d (see Nehemiah 10:34-35). Earlier during the days of King
Jehoiada, the money from the census is used to make repairs to the Temple
building.
The idea of the census
seems to imply that it is a time of taking stock. Hopefully things have
improved but not necessarily so. For example in the first census of the nation
of Israel the total was 603,550 (Numbers 2:30). In the second census the total
is 601,730, a decline of 1,820, not good. One would hope that the number of
Jews would increase under Moshe Rabenu. However, even if the population rises
it can invite jealousy with those saying what merit has caused this gain.
The half of a shekel
is a ransom because it asks what you have done with your money. By extension it
also asks what we have done with our lives. The idea of fixing the roads so
people can go to Jerusalem to celebrate Pesach implies that we should be
engaged in things for the good of the public that help a person to ascend. It
can be mundane things like fixing the mikvahs, pruning fields that have become
overgrown, or tending to the Temple building and grounds. In all cases these
should be like the sacrifices which are joyful acts of dedication. The highest
ideal is to study Torah and live according to its precepts. Like the half
shekel is a modest coin our shows of faith should be modest as well.
לע"נ, הסבא ,אהרן בן יוסף ז"ל
נלב"ע כז טבת תשכ"ו
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