Little things are really big things; let me explain.
We are at a point in the calendar when we layn the Daled Parshiyos, the four separate sections of Torah we read as maftir, with their accompanying haftaros. We begin the cycle this week with Parshas Shekalim.
Rashi (Megillah 29a) explains that we read Parshas Shekalim either before or right at the beginning of Adar so as to give people 30 days notice to bring their annual shekalim donations to the Beis HaMikdash on time for the New Year collection, which began in Nissan. The Mishna Berura (Siman 685) says that we continue this practice today as a reminder of the mitzvah and because by reading and studying about the mitzvah, it is as if we are fulfilling it.
The haftarah is taken from Melachim Beis (perakim 11 and 12) which describes how the Beis HaMikdash was not maintained properly during the reigns of the wicked kings of Yehudah. Yehoash HaMelech began a campaign to correct these wrongs by reinstituting the collection of the shekalim, as well as organizing an oversight system to make sure the funds collected were properly allocated.
What is the deeper message of the shekalim?
Rav Moshe Weinberger of Aish Kodesh cites (sefer Sod Yesharim) the Radziner Rebbe,Rav Gershon Henoch, who says that the name Purim comes from the word peirurim, crumbs. Haman spent 10,000 shekalim to buy the rights to kill the Jews, Chazal say, and Hashem gave us the mitzvah of machatzis hashekel in order to create a merit and counterbalance. What does all this mean?
We think our mitzvos are crumbs and not worth much to Hashem; we think all we have is “half shekels” of mitzvos. We think our davening and our brachos are not valuable. We think we need 10,000 shekalim of mitzvos to make a difference. But in reality, just having basic emunah during these times of great spiritual challenges is inestimable in Hashem’s eyes.
The great tzaddikim of yesteryear would always say that in the generation before Moshiach with all its tests and nisyonos,the simple Jews who maintain their faith and avodas Hashem will be equal in Hashem’s eyes to the great tzaddikim of the past.
Chazal say that at the time of creation, after HaKadosh Baruch Hu separated the waters into the heavenly waters above and earthly waters below, the earthly waters began to cry. Why were they being banished from near Hashem? Hashem consoled them by telling them they would be reunited with Him on the mizbayach during the sacrifice of the water libations, nisuch hamayim.
Rav Weinberger asks: If the Beis HaMikdash only existed for 830 years, a very small time frame in world history, and the amount of days on which water was used on the mizbayach each year was only seven – in other words, not even a drop in the bucket compared to all the world’s water – how much of a consolation could this be?
These waters are really a mashal for our souls which are sent away from Hashem’s Throne and into this world. The comfort was this: Yafeh sha’ah achas in this world than all of the next world; even a small time period of mitzvos and holiness are worth all of creation.
The Berditchiver Rebbe once said that no matter how low a Jews sinks spiritually, he still has some connection to Hashem. We make a siyum when we perform mitzvos or finish a masechta, but no Jew makes a siyum for performing an aveirah. That is because deep down, we know what is right and who we really are – neshamos with a connection to Hashem. Klal Yisrael didn’t cry after Chet Ha’Eigel, even though so many were killed. However, the Chumash does say (Shemos 33:4) that we mourned and cried when Hashem said that He will no longer be in our midst, and will send His angels to take care of us. The loss of a connection with Hashem was something we could not tolerate – and when He saw our reaction and desperation, Hashem relented.
Hashem says we only have to give a half shekel, but Rashi (Shemos 30:13) says the original coin Hashem showed Moshe was made from fire. Even our small mitzvos, if done with fire, with passion, are precious to Hashem. It need not be a fire that causes an entire conflagration but simply a small spark with meaning and a desire to get closer to Hashem.
Chazal say (see Rashi, Shemos 30:14) that the half shekel each member of Klal Yisrael donated annually to the Mishkan was used for the daily korbanos, the temidim k’sidran, the standard routine sacrifices.
The Chidushei HaRim says that the letters of the word shekel – shin, kuf, lamed – stand for the words in Shema, “shachbecha, when you lie down”, “shivtecha, when you sit”, “kumecha, when you get up”, and “lechtecha, when you go on your way”. There is value and growth to be found in our daily routine. Even that which seems small can be something great.
And these are some of the happenings in this week’s haftarah.