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B”H
From the Desk of Rabbi Fogelman
Shabbos Shkolim
This coming Shabbos, in addition to Parshas Pekudei, we also read the first of the four special chapters before Passover. The topic is the commandment by G-d to the Jewish people that every adult male must give a half a shekel towards the mishkan tabernacle. The rich can’t give more, and the poor can’t give less.
Why a HALF a shekel?
The reason is that a Jew acting selfishly is only half a person. Each person is half in many respects. For example, we are made up of two souls. The animal soul, relating to all physical needs expressed through the 248 human organs - the eye to see, the ear to hear, the mouth to talk, the feet to walk. Then there is the G-dly neshomo, soul, with which we are endowed. The neshomo attempts to direct all the 248 organs to a higher purpose. While the animal soul eats only to satisfy its material desire, the G-dly soul seeks to enrich, inspire, and direct the physical aspect of life towards peace, unity, love, and friendship. The mitzvah of a half a shekel makes us realize that we are only half without the divine force within us.
The central force in a human is the mind because of its ability to think. It can be used for positive or negative purposes. In the positive, it can be used to discover and provide the art of genuine friendship. In the negative it is expressed as self-centeredness, false pride, and cunning ingenuity, creating destruction and annihilation. The classic example of this is the gas chambers of Nazi Germany.
A Jew, having to donate half a shekel, comes to realize that unless he or she fulfills the physical and spiritual responsibilities, he or she is only a half a person. This is how we begin preparing for Passover.
