Skip to main content

Pesukei D’Zimrah-Shekalim-Psalm 148

The reason for the mitzvah to give half a Shekel is offered by Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz (Manot Levi), cited by the Alshich, as follows: It was intended to teach the Children of Israel the importance of unity, that no one should ever think that he ought to be separate from his fellow man. Rather, he should view himself as being merely half a person, and only after joining all other Jews does he become complete. Therefore, everyone gives half a Shekel.

 

The commentaries wrote, concerning a Haman’s statement to King Achashveirosh that, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples (Esther 3:8),” that the Jews are a people divided and therefore easily conquered. Therefore through Mordecai, did Esther cry out, “Go, gather together all the Jews (4:16), meaning, in order to repair the devices in this gather them together, in unity.

That is why the Torah commanded that everyone gave half a Shekel each year as “ransom for the soul (Exodus 30:12).” For this sin of divisiveness was not yet corrected, not until Elijah will come, who, “Shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers (Malachi 3:24).” The theSecond Temple was destroyed in punishment for baseless hatred, until God will send Elijah to repair this sin.


Hence the need to inspire the people on the first day of the month of Adar, before the reading of Esther, by giving half a shekel each, to inspire and arouse themselves to correct this sin, just as Esther sought to repair it when she sensed that the time was appropriate for it. (Toledot Yaakov Yosef, Ki Tisa)


Psalm 148 is associated with the song that the entire, unified creation shall sing upon the arrival of the Messiah. It is an expression of a unified world, a unified people, a unified creation. It is appropriate to apply this lesson of the Half Shekel when singing this song each morning as we prepare for Purim.


By:  Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Birchat Hamazon

By: Machberes Avodas Hashem The Chafetz Chaim taught: "At the conclusion of the main portion of Grace after Meals we add a series of,' May the All Merciful.' We add numerous such petitions, indicating that a request to God after the performance of a mitzvah is especially acceptable before Him (Michtevei haRav Chafetz Chaim, page 45)." One of the primary issues of the Exile is, "You wrapped Yourself in a cloud that no prayer can pierce (Lamentations 3:44)." It is more difficult to pray during the Three Weeks than other times during the year because we experience this "cloud." With COVID unfortunately around, this year proves to be even more difficult because our time in shul has changed drastically, and we have never experienced the pain of the three weeks while in a situation similar to the present state of the world. We can use this strategy of the Chafetz Chaim, that of praying immediately after the performance of a mitzvah, so that we may feel t...

Koneh Hakol

 In the first Blessing of the Amidah when it says Hashem is " Koneh Hakol " it does not mean Hashem bought it all, or He acquired it since He made it! The son of the Vilna Gaon quotes his father, as explaining  Koneh Hakol to mean He's Mitaken (fixing)  everything.  Therefore Hashem inserted in the creation the ability to fix everything! Which is what the Torah  refers to in the Parshas Lech Licha, in the verse about Avram Avinu being one that was a Mitaken , one who made things right, improved  ie. the of Heaven and Earth, וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖הוּ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר בָּר֤וּךְ אַבְרָם֙ לְאֵ֣ל עֶלְי֔וֹן קֹנֵ֖ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ  (Genesis, 14:19) He blessed him, saying, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. Concept shared by Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y (Parshas Lech Licha -10-25-2020)

Creation

 All was destroyed during the month of Av. Creation began on Elul, and, so it will again. We recite this prayer for the New Month focusing on Creation. “God created the world in order to do good to an other (Derech Hashem 1:2:1).” Creation was an expression of absolute love, the “other” had done nothing to earn it. This is why Elul, the month of Creation is also the month of intense love between God and Israel. I recite this prayer imaging myself participating in the final Heavenly planning meetings before Creation. I am not praying as one who has already existed and experienced success and failure, but as one who has the opportunity to see the world before Creation, and request in this moment of intense love all that I could possibly need and want. I use this prayer to prepare for all my Elul prayers until the 25th of the month when Creation began. For what shall I ask? What will I need to succeed? How will I define success? What do I hope to achieve? Rabbi Simcha Weinberg