Shekalim
What are the 4 parshios?
Mishna Brura 685:1
I will clarify in short the concept of the four parshios, which is: Our Sages instituted the reading of four sections during the year from Rosh Chodesh Adar through Rosh Chodesh Nissan as a remembrance of four things, and these are them. The ½ shekel which they were obligated to give to the Treasury for the communal sacrifices, this was announced at Rosh Chodesh Adar, because by Rosh Chodesh Nissan the communal sacrifices had to be brought from the new Terumah.
Parshas Shekalim - to recall the 1/2 shekel through which the entire people were represented in the daily communal offerings.
Parshas Zachor - to remember the evil of Amalek and the mitzvah to wipe them out.
Parshas Parah - to remember the ashes of the Red Heifer and the puification process which was necessary before bringing the Korban Pesach, which we read also as a tefila to HaShem that soon the purifying waters should be sprinkled upon us as well.
Parshas Chodesh - to remember to sanctify the moon, as it says “HaChodesh hazeh lachem” about Rosh Chodesh Nissan.
Let's explore the relationship between the giving of the ½ Shekel and Purim, as we always read it before that happy day, it must somehow be connected.
Rashi 30: 15
“Davar Acher” - Three Terumos are hinted at here, as the word Terumah is written three times.
Once for the donation of the Adanim (the sockets which held the upright planks of the Mishkan) when they were counted here (in the desert) when they began the donations of the Mishkan that each one gave ½ a Shekel, and it equaled one hundred kikar of silver;
and the second was when they were counted at the construction of the Mishkan (which took place on Rosh Chodesh Nissan), and that money was for the public offerings for that year, and on this Terumah the Torah equates the poor and the rich, and says: “to atone for your souls…” because the sacrifices come as an atonement;
and the third Terumah was the donations for the Mishkan… wherein every person gave according to what their heart motivated them….
"The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall give less..." If the Torah mandates specifically that the rich not give more than a 1/2 shekel, and the poor not give less, then there must be a temptation to do both.
The rich might think to give according to their means, which would undoubtably be more than a 1/2 shekel, and the poor man, to save himself the little bit of money, might think his contribution is meaningless, as he is not a man of means.
Which mistake is because the person values money too much?
Our gut reaction might be to say the poor man, or the rich man, but I believe they are both making the same mistake, that the level at which one "counts" among the Jewish people has to do with how much gelt we've got.
Whether one overestimates their importance because of their wealth, or one underestimates the importance of their monetary contributions because they are small, one makes the mistake that it's about the money. Of course it will take funds to buy the offerings, but it is not about the money, but rather the unification of the people's 1/2 shekel that is significant, each giving equally.
How is this lesson a preparation for the war with Amalek?
Because Amalek is only interested in power, and because in this world money seems to be power, Amalekites mistakenly equate the two.
So, part of the preparation for the war against Amalek is to be aware not only that we are unified - but that we the Jewish people are equally important despite whatever financial power we might seem to have.
Mishna Brura 685:1
I will clarify in short the concept of the four parshios, which is: Our Sages instituted the reading of four sections during the year from Rosh Chodesh Adar through Rosh Chodesh Nissan as a remembrance of four things, and these are them. The ½ shekel which they were obligated to give to the Treasury for the communal sacrifices, this was announced at Rosh Chodesh Adar, because by Rosh Chodesh Nissan the communal sacrifices had to be brought from the new Terumah.
Parshas Shekalim - to recall the 1/2 shekel through which the entire people were represented in the daily communal offerings.
Parshas Zachor - to remember the evil of Amalek and the mitzvah to wipe them out.
Parshas Parah - to remember the ashes of the Red Heifer and the puification process which was necessary before bringing the Korban Pesach, which we read also as a tefila to HaShem that soon the purifying waters should be sprinkled upon us as well.
Parshas Chodesh - to remember to sanctify the moon, as it says “HaChodesh hazeh lachem” about Rosh Chodesh Nissan.
Let's explore the relationship between the giving of the ½ Shekel and Purim, as we always read it before that happy day, it must somehow be connected.
Rashi 30: 15
“Davar Acher” - Three Terumos are hinted at here, as the word Terumah is written three times.
Once for the donation of the Adanim (the sockets which held the upright planks of the Mishkan) when they were counted here (in the desert) when they began the donations of the Mishkan that each one gave ½ a Shekel, and it equaled one hundred kikar of silver;
and the second was when they were counted at the construction of the Mishkan (which took place on Rosh Chodesh Nissan), and that money was for the public offerings for that year, and on this Terumah the Torah equates the poor and the rich, and says: “to atone for your souls…” because the sacrifices come as an atonement;
and the third Terumah was the donations for the Mishkan… wherein every person gave according to what their heart motivated them….
"The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall give less..." If the Torah mandates specifically that the rich not give more than a 1/2 shekel, and the poor not give less, then there must be a temptation to do both.
The rich might think to give according to their means, which would undoubtably be more than a 1/2 shekel, and the poor man, to save himself the little bit of money, might think his contribution is meaningless, as he is not a man of means.
Which mistake is because the person values money too much?
Our gut reaction might be to say the poor man, or the rich man, but I believe they are both making the same mistake, that the level at which one "counts" among the Jewish people has to do with how much gelt we've got.
Whether one overestimates their importance because of their wealth, or one underestimates the importance of their monetary contributions because they are small, one makes the mistake that it's about the money. Of course it will take funds to buy the offerings, but it is not about the money, but rather the unification of the people's 1/2 shekel that is significant, each giving equally.
How is this lesson a preparation for the war with Amalek?
Because Amalek is only interested in power, and because in this world money seems to be power, Amalekites mistakenly equate the two.
So, part of the preparation for the war against Amalek is to be aware not only that we are unified - but that we the Jewish people are equally important despite whatever financial power we might seem to have.