B"H
Wednesday, Adar 15, 5780 / March 11, 2020
This week’s Parsha, Ki Tisa, begins with the mitzvah of the “half shekel,” which G-d commanded the Jewish people to contribute and which were later used for the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Then the Torah tells the story of how they made and worshipped the Golden Calf.
The events in the Torah are not always recorded in their chronological order. At times, events which took place later appear earlier in the Torah. One such place is the above mentioned two events in this week's Parsha, Ki Tisa.
The Parsha begins, "And the L-rd spoke to Moshe saying, 'When you will take the count of the children of Israel, every man shall give a ransom for his soulto the L-rd... This they shall give... a half shekel..."
Every man between the ages of twenty and sixty had to give a half shekel coin, no more and no less. By counting the coins, Moshe would know the exact number of the people. The silver half shekels were later melted down and used as the foundation of the Tabernacle (Mishkan).
Besides for the purpose of counting the people, the half Shekel also served, as the Torah states, "a ransom” helping to secure forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf. Here we see that the events are recorded not in their timely order. The commandment to give the half shekel appears in the Parsha before the sin of the Golden Calf although it was commanded only after, as a ransom for that sin.
In telling Moshe about the half shekel, the Torah says, "This they shall give." Our sages explain that the word "this" implies that G-d "showed Moshe a coin of fire," to illustrate the half shekel which they shall give.
Q. Why did G-d illustrate the coin in the form of fire? Why a "halfShekel" rather than a "complete shekel?"
A. Our sages reply that G-d implied two important lessons to the people. The purpose of the "Half-Shekel" was to forgive the Jewish people for the sin of the Golden Calf. In order to atone for this terrible sin, it was important that Jews stand united. By commanding each one to give a halfShekel, the Torah implies that every Jew must feel that they are only half! Only through associating and connecting with another, can a Jew become complete.
Similarly, Hillel the Elder teaches in Pirkei Avot, "If I am only for myself, what am I?" We have to be part of the community – Klall Yisrael.
The reason G-d showed Moshe a "Coin of Fire" is that fire represents feelings of warmth and emotion. "A Coin of Fire" means that when giving charity we should give it with warmth and feeling and not grudgingly.
The expression the Torah uses to command the Jewish people to give the half-shekel is, “venatenu” - “they shall give.” Our sages make the following observation: The Hebrew word venatenucan be read frontward and backward. This tells us that when one gives charity, G-d gives backthat and much more.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY