Subject: In Memory of Shmuel Leib ben Zvi (Lewis Berkin) & Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin) Ki Tisa 5784 |
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com> |
Date: 3/1/2024, 7:55 AM |
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com> |
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com |
In this week's Parhsa Ki Tisa we read about the half shekel contribution which each man gave as a way of taking a census of the Jewish People. The Torah tells us that there is a danger in counting people (outright) and therefore the count should be performed by a contribution in which the total contribution was counted in place of the people themselves. The question is asked that if counting people does pose some kind of danger and risk then why was there a need to count the people at all?
The commentators explain that this counting took place after the sin of the golden calf, which caused a major spiritual downfall to the Jewish People. One of the reasons given for counting the people at this time was to show them that even if they are at a lowly level and have sinned, they are still important in Hashem's Eyes. By giving significance to every single person this showed them that even though they are momentarily at a low in their essence they are still important and exalted.
May these divre Torah be a refuah shelaima for Miriam bas Gittel
Shabbat Shalom,
Heath