In this weeks parsha, parshat Ki- Tisa, Hashem tells Moshe to count Binay Yisroel by each individual donating half a shekel. Chazal ask, why a half shekel? how can this be a proper representation of someones neshama? They give the answer that the reason each person was responsible for a half a shekel is because no person is a complete entity on his own, but rather can only be a "whole thing” when united with another person. What is another reason why Binay Yisroel was commanded to give a half shekel?
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Ki Tisa #1- 1/2 shekel?
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Rabbi dr raymond apple writes on his blog oztorah.com explaining that it represented two different aspects of life- material and spiritual. Half of the day was meant to be designated for material and the other half spiritual. We as humans must maintain and strengthen our spiritual connection with Hashem but we cannot do that without contributing to our physical world.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Reuel Dillon said that the half shekel was possibly related to a way for Bnei Yisrael to atone for their sins from Chet Haegel when they were involved in the sin of idolatry. Just as Hashem anticipated our need for mashiach, just as we read in parshat ki tisa it was as if Hashem foresaw when Bnei Yisrael committed the huge sin of the Chet Haegel and therefore gives them the command of the half-shekel in advance.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Yochanan says in the Midrash Tanchuma that the reason for half a shekel is that since bnei yisrael violated the ten commandments, each person should give ten gerah which is equivalent to half a shekel.
ReplyDelete--gabriela beyda
Every jew from 20 and up needs to give half a shekel. Rashi, quoting the Midrash Tanchuma, says that hashem shows moshe a coin of fire - mevateh shel eish which felt like a half a shekel in terms of weight. The Lubavitcher Rebbe suggests an answer for the reason that Hashem wanted to show Moshe what a half a shekel is like in such an interesting way is because the word mevateh comes from teveh which is nature. And a coin has strict measurments. Fire is filled with passion. And a jew should mix these two ideas together. One should fulfill all the rules and try and be exact, but to do it with passion and excitement. This was what hashem was showing moshe. Hashem wanted moshe to tell Bnei to donate this coin and fire to the BHMK and that is what it represents.
ReplyDeleteRabbi sheffa gold says The half-shekel we contribute is a reminder of the truth. Giving it consciously, we are saying, “Count me in!” Just by being alive and present I become an important part of this great community. The half-shekel redeems one from appearing serparted.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the chizkuni, the purpose of the half shekel is to symbolize that they danced around the egel at midday. The "half" represents the midday time. I think that this idea serves as a response to "pay" for their crimes in some sort of way, and to express their loyalty to Hashem now.
ReplyDeleteDaat Zkenim comments on this commonly asked question. He explains that the significance behind giving half a shekel was that Bnei Yisrael had to pay for the half a day they did nothing to destroy the egel hazahav. I think this it was important for Bnei Yisrael to remember their sin and the time they spent betraying Hashem and it's also significant that everyone had to do it because as a whole all of them sinned.
ReplyDeletein the medresh tanchuma rabbi yochanan says that everyone should give ten garah which is the same thing as a half shekel because of the 10 commandments they did not follow
ReplyDeleteAish.com says that Bnei israel all gave 1/2 a shekel because for some that's all they could give. Hashem wanted us to see that we were all equal in his eyes, whether poor or rich, and so everyone gave the same amount. This way the poor could still feel like they were contributing somehow and they would remain equal to the rich. It made them feel significant
ReplyDeleteChabad.org says the idea of the half-shekel: “This they shall give...half a shekel for an offering to G‑d.” is to emphasize that even a Jew works to provide a living for himself and his family he can, and must be sanctified, he must give “half a shekel for an offering to G‑d.” By not taking more for himself than what he gives to G‑d, his work is sanctified. And this is precisely the idea of tzedakah — “he is giving his soul’s life to G‑d.”
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ReplyDeleteKAYLA BARISHANSKY we contribute this as a reminder of truth according to Rabbi Sheffla. When we give it we are saying were apart of the community and not seperated.
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