30 | FEBRUARY 11 • 2021 

SPIRIT

Cost of Atonement
T

his Shabbat, when we 
read Parshat Mishpatim, 
is the first day of Adar. 
This week’s additional read-
ing for the month of Adar is 
titled Parshat Shekalim; 
in it is the Jewish peo-
ple’s half-shekel contri-
bution to the Mishkan, 
the Tabernacle.
After the Jewish 
people sinned with 
the Golden Calf, God 
commanded Moses to 
tell the people to each 
bring an atonement of 
a half-shekel. From that 
year onward, every Jew 
was required to bring a 
half-shekel to be used 
for the purchase of 
communal offerings. 
Although this donation 
became unnecessary after the 
destruction of the Temple, we 
read this portion as a replace-
ment for its actual fulfillment.
Here are three life lessons that 
may be derived from this spe-
cific commandment: 
1. “God’s love of each and every 
Jew is infinitely greater than the 
love of elderly parents for their 
only child born to them in their 
later years.
” (The Ba’al Shem Tov.)
The verse states, in regard to 
the half-shekel: “The rich shall 
give no more, and the poor shall 
give no less than half a shekel, 
with which to give the offering 
to the Lord, to atone for your 
souls” (Exodus 30:15). When it 
comes to matters of the Jews’ 
relationship with God, there is 
no elite status for someone who 
is rich or who has any worldly 
advantage. The requirement 
upon every Jew equally rep-
resents the ultimate unification 
which God has with every Jew, 
regardless of achieved status.
2. “
A Jew does not desire to, 

nor can he, separate himself 
from God.
” (Rabbi Shneur 
Zalman of Liadi.)
Why was it specifically a 
half-shekel and not a full shek-
el? There is one commen-
tary which explains that 
this alludes to the fact that 
atonement for the soul is 
only necessary for half of 
the soul. There is always 
the part of the soul that 
remains as pure as ever 
throughout the struggles 
of the integrated (with the 
body) part of the soul. This 
unaltered portion is what 
leaves us eternally bonded 
with God and fellow Jews. 
3. “One who brings a 
substantial offering and 
one who brings a meager offer-
ing have equal merit, provided 
that he directs his heart toward 
heaven.
” (Menachot 13:11).
When it comes to matters 
of atonement and reconcilia-
tion for the Golden Calf, a sin 
which has had repercussions 
throughout Jewish history, the 
question arises: How is it that a 
half-coin donation is meaning-
ful enough to atone for this sin? 
The Talmud tells us that this 
question bothered no less than 
Moses. God responded to Moses 
by “taking a half-shekel coin of 
fire from beneath His throne of 
glory and telling Moses, ‘Like 
this you shall give.
’’’ What is the 
meaning of this Godly response? 
It is not the quantity that counts, 
but the quality.
There is no greater step 
toward reconciliation than a 
Jew who gives what seems to be 
an insignificant half-shekel, but 
given with a fire and passionate 
yearning to return to God. 

Rabbi Mendel Polter is a rabbi at the 

Woodward Avenue Shul.

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi 

Mendel 

Polter

Parshat 

Mishpatim: 

Exodus 

21:1-24:18; II 

Kings 12:1-

17. (Shabbat 

Shekalim)
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