I hope everyone had an uplifting Purim. It is an appropriate time to point out that many the mitzvos of Purim which involved giving, tie beautifully into our parshios.
We have reached the parshios of the actual building of the Mishkan. Bnei Yisrael were given the command and opportunity to donate to the BAM fund (Build A Mishkan fund). It even had a semi-matching campaign - the twelve Nesiim - leaders of the Tribes! They would donate whatever wasn’t given. However, Bnei Yisrael did such a good job that all the Nesiim had left to donate were the stones for the Choshen and some big oxen and wagons. Bnei Yisrael had a chance to give to build Hashem’s house, and they did generously!
How much could their giving really be worth? Any amount they gave would never equal what Hashem has. And when they built the Mishkan, even with following all the instructions with all the intricate details, it could never equal to any of Hashem’s creations.
And why does the Torah list the Mishkan and its parts it so many times? All together, we find everything listed seven times. All the vessels, the beams, curtains, etc. Why?
We’ll answer this with the following mashal. Mr. Ilan Muskberg, an extremely wealthy Jew, had a young son, Junior, whom he loved dearly. He could buy Junior whatever he wished, many times over. One day, Junior decided to bring his father a gift. He went out and picked a few wildflowers from the side of the road. He put them in a paper cup, colored it, and proudly brought it to his dad. His father could buy entire flower industry with every type of flower. But he took it and praised it! He named every type of flower there, and pointed out every detail of the cup and the drawing. When a visitor came in, dad proudly showed them the gift, going over all the details again. And the same thing with the next visitor, and the next.
When the Torah goes through listing the parts of the Mishkan seven times, it is Hashem showing his love for Bnei Yisrael. Something precious you count often, and you keep on mentioning it.
The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh describes two types of giving that went on. The pasuk says: “The men whose hearts inspired them, and the ones whose spirits were motivated...” There’s a giver who wants to give and can afford to, as they are wealthy - that’s the motivated spirit. Then there’s a giver who gives more than they can because of their generous heart, but it’s really beyond their means - that’s the inspired heart. The Torah is teaching us, everyone gave with a desire and are all worthy of praise. And that’s why the Torah calls their donations terumas Hashem, donations of Hashem. Such a praise for Klal Yisrael!
That giving was whatever they wanted to give. But there was another giving before which was limited. The machatzis hashekel - the half-shekel, which everyone was required to give. Even if one wanted to give more, they couldn’t.
The gemara in Megillah says Hashem gave us the mitzvah of the half-shekel as a z’chus to beat Haman’s 10,000 kikar kesef, which he offered to Achashveirosh for permission to destroy Klal Yisrael. (A current calculation of that amount equals about six hundred tons of silver!)
This is called the refuah – remedy - before the makah - affliction. They would announce to give the shekalim on Rosh Chodesh Adar,before we mention Haman in the megillah on Purim, to be reminded of the z’chus of the mitzvah before Haman makes his offer.
How does that help? Is the half-shekel of all Klal Yisrael nearly equal to Haman’s offer? Furthermore, Haman wanted his offer to be pleasing to Hashem - “See what I’m willing to give, and how strong my ratzon – desire – is!”
The pasuk in Ashrei says: Poseiach es yadecha...ratzon - Hashem opens His hand and sustains all life according to their desires. The common explanation is that He gives whatever we need. There’s another explanation. He gives according to what you want! That’s why the next pasuk says, Tzaddik Hashem... Hashem is a tzaddik! He sees deep down what you really want, and answers you accordingly.
Haman knew this, and was declaring before Hashem - See how sincere I am! I’m willing to give so much, my ratzon is huge! How can you ignore me?
So, the mitzvah of shekalim is the remedy against Haman. How does it beat His offer?
Because we really want to give more, but we’re held back. Only give the half-shekel, no more, even though you want to! Our ratzon – desire - gets multiplied and becomes much greater. That means our ratzon is truly much greater than Haman’s/Amalek’s sincere ratzon. His offer was limited, only 10,000 kikar kesef. Ours becomes endless! That’s how our half-shekalim defeated his offer.
Chazal teach us that we will get out of this galus with the z’chus of tzedakah. There is definitely no shortage of opportunities to give, especially around the Pesach season with maos chitin - matzah and food for Pesach.
Aside for giving or collecting money to give out, when there’s a ratzon, there are many opportunities available.
A certain community wanted to build a shul. They imposed a tax upon all the members of the shul to either donate themselves or collect X amount. One member quietly came to the gabbai in charge. He said, “I would love to help, but I have no financial means or relatives to ask. And my friends are all part of the shul, so I can’t ask them. However, I am offering my car and services for whatever is needed. Any rides or errands I’ll volunteer for! Please, let me at least do something!”
There are people who noticed vast amounts of unsold food from take-outs and restaurants being disposed of. Or from simchas and kiddushin being thrown out. Other’s noticed people collecting leftover edible food from yeshiva dining rooms, because they couldn’t afford any. Those with a ratzon took the initiative and created organizations to collect food from those places, which they distribute to those in need. Such z’chusim of tzedakah! In a world full of selfishness, tzedakah stands out in its greatness. Klal Yisrael excels in this!
Thank you Hashem for everything you have given us! May we all be zoche to have a ratzon to be the giver, and to give! In the z’chus of tzedakah may we be zoche to greet Mashioch very soon!
