Parshas Shekalim
Dr. Nosson Chayim Leff
Sfas Emes, Zechuso Tagein Aleinu, Parshas Shekalim, 5631
The Sfas Emes begins this ma'amar by quoting from the first mishna in
Maseches Shekalim: "On the first day of Adar, we inform people about
their obligation to donate a half shekel to the Beis HaMikdash and
about kilayim (that is, the obligation, when planting one's field, to
avoid mixing seeds of different plants, such as grapes and wheat)."
The Sfas Emes poses a basic question: Why were these announcements
made specifically in the month of Adar? The Sfas Emes answers that the
month of Adar resembles the month of Elul in certain important
ways. We know that Elul is the month before the end of one year and
the beginning of a new year that begins with Rosh Hashana. Thus its
position as a potential turning point in our lives makes Elul a
propitious time for doing teshuva, for repenting. So, too, the Sfas
Emes tells us, the month of Adar immediately precedes the new year
that begins in Nisan. Thus, Adar is also well placed for a person to
look inside himself and do teshuva. Because of its importance, Adar is
a good time for making the key announcements mentioned in the mishna.
But, notes the Sfas Emes, there is an important difference between
teshuva in Adar and teshuva in Elul. In Elul, we do teshuva from yirah
(fear or a sense of awe). By contrast, in Adar, we can more easily do
teshuva out of a sense of love (ahava) for HaShem. Indeed, that is why
we experience heightened joy ? simcha - in Adar. When Adar comes,
our expansiveness and good feeling toward HaShem increase.
That is the reason for our obligation to donate half a shekel to the
Beis HaMikdash. Obviously HaShem does not need our donations. What He
wants is to give us the opportunity to awaken our good feelings and
dedication toward Him.
(Note, incidentally, that the Sfas Emes has just given us a whole new
perspective on giving tzedaka. The conventional view sees us giving
tzedaka because of our commitment to observe mitzvos. Ultimately, love
for HaShem may enter the process. But that happens only if we work on
ourselves diligently enough to do the mitzva not by rote and or out of
social pressure but rather because of our love for HaShem. By
contrast, the Sfas Emes sees the process as beginning from our love
and good feelings to HaShem.)
Every Jew has within him a latent devotion to HaShem. What we need is
an activity to express that devotion. The obligation to give the half
shekel to the Beis Hamikdash provides such an opportunity. And because
Adar gives us an opportunity to express that love for HaShem, we feel
more joy!
At this point, the Sfas Emes injects a note of severe caution into the
ma'amar by citing a dvar Torah from his grandfather, the Chidushei
Harim. The pasuk in Shir HaShirim (7:2) says: "Mah yafu pe'ahmayich
bane'alim, bas nadiv." (ArtScroll: "But your footsteps were so lovely
when shod in pilgrim's sandals, O daughter of nobles."). The Chidushei
HaRim read this pasuk in the following non-pshat manner: The
generosity and expansiveness of spirit (he is reading "pe'ahmahyich as
"pulse rate," i.e., "spirit") of the Jewish people as the descendants
of Avraham Avinu (whose great chesed and magnanimity entitled him to
the sobriquet "the Nadiv," i.e., the "benefactor") is so great that it
must be locked up ("min'al" = lock). That is, this love can be so
overpowering that it has to be watched and controled lest it go
outside, i.e., be misdirected. (Anyone familiar with the devotion and
love that too many Jews in Russia and Poland harbored for communism
will concur in this comment of the Chidushei HaRim.)
The Sfas Emes continues, addressing a question that may have bothered
you earlier. The mishna quoted above juxtaposes two things . First,
it specifies awakening people?s hearts to nedivus ?
expansiveness. The mishna conveys his message by requiring all of us
to make a donation to the Beis Hamikdash. Then the mishna warns us to
be careful to avoid kil'ayim. What is the connection beween these two
items in the mishna ? The Sfas Emes answers this question by offering
us a non-pshat reading of the word 'kil'ayim'. He reads the word as
an allusion to "locking up" (as in "beis ha'kela" = prison). People
must be warned to be careful with their idealism and generosity.
The Sfas Emes concludes: Every year when we read the parsha of
Shekalim, our hearts are awakened to give all to
HaShem. Unfortunately, we do not have the Beis HaMikdash and thus
cannot give our all as an offering. But in any case, HaShem's love for
us is awakened, and we can do teshuva with simcha.
Copyright © 2004 by Dr. Nosson Chayim Leff and Torah.org
