B"H

Friday, Shevat 26, 5780 / February 21, 2020

This Shabbat, two Torahs scrolls are removed from the ark. In the first one we read the regular weekly Torah portion, Parshat  Mishpatim. From the second Torah scroll, we read Parshat Shkalim, which is found in the Book of Exodus in Ki Tisa. 

Parshat  Shkalim is read every year on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar.  Rosh Chodesh Adar will begin Monday night through Tuesday & Wednesday. 

Parshat Shkalim is the first of four Torah readings, which are read between now and Pesach.

It is about the half silver shekel coin contribution which each man between the ages of 20 and 60 had to contribute.  The coins were then counted, thus Moshe was able to know the count of the people. The silver was later melted down and used toward the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) 

This took place after the sin of the Golden Calf, when, as a punishment, thousands of Jews died. G-d told Moshe to count the Jews. This was done through counting the half shkalim which they contributed.

In addition to being a counting tool, the half shkalim were in fact, as the Torah says, “a ransom for their soul.”  It was to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf.

We read Parshat  Shekalim at this time of the year to remind us of the days of the Holy Temple.  Each year, before the month of Nissan, everyone had to contribute to a special fund that was used to purchase the Temple sacrifices for the entire year. At this time of the year they would begin the collections and remind people to contribute.

Although we don't have the Holy Temple today, we still read this portion. This affirms our belief in the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Beth Hamikdash, when we will again contribute to the Temple.

Q.    Why is a charity box passed around in shul every day (except Shabbat) during prayer?

A.   The Talmud tells us that Rabbi Eliezer would always give a "peruta" (a coin) to a poor person before starting to pray.  G-d acts toward us measure for measure as we act to others. In order to evoke G-d's mercy upon us and grant us whatever we need, which is what prayer is about, we give charity to exhibit our mercy for the needs of others.

Q.   Why did G-d command them to give a “half” shekel and not a full shekel?

A.  This teaches us that every Jew should consider himself as only a "half".  In order to be complete, we need to be part of the congregation of Israel. We are only half in isolation and complete in unity.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 5:11 / Shabbat ends: 6:16