As
we are just a few weeks from Pesach, it suddenly dawned on me that I need to
start gathering all my income tax information and getting everything complete.
Admittedly it is not just that Purim ended and Pesach preparations have begun
which have reminded me of my legal obligations. We watch a lot of news in our
house. When our children actually sit with me they will frequently ask
questions. They don’t realize it, but it is a great way to educated young
people in current affairs. In any case, the other morning I was drinking coffee
and watching my favorite news show, when my son came bounding down the stairs
and sat with me. It just so happened that the there was a discussion about the
President, Congress, the Sequester, and the automatic budget cuts that were
about to lop of some 85 billion dollars from a bloated budget. As my son watched, the discussion turned
towards the role of taxes. Could the budget deficit be eliminated by “taxing
their way out?”, or by “cutting spending” only. As my son listened to the “talking
heads”, my son asked me, why not do both, that would make the problem go away
faster. A few seconds later, the
“talking heads” confirmed what my son said. Needless to say, he was rather
excited that “experts” validated what he said. During the commercial, I
explained that some political leaders think that when the government collects
taxes, it is infringing upon our welfare and our freedom. I smiled and told him
that I don’t normally vote for those kinds of leaders.
This
week we read from Parsha Ki Tissa. As mentioned, we are a few weeks away from
Pesach; we take note of that by reading the special Maftir Aliyah which focuses
upon the Laws of the Red Heifer (Num. 19:1-22). The reason has to with the
Pesach Offering. The ashes of the Red Heifer were sprinkled such that all of
B’nai Yisroel would be deemed as purified and therefore able to bring the
Pesach offering. Parsha Ki Tissa is divided into several parts. The first part
being the commanded to take a census of the population and collect a half
shekel for each person counted. The second part is the final blue prints for
the Mishkan, the spices that are to be used, as well as the oil that is to be
processed prior to burning. God then designates two men, Betzalel ben Uri from
the tribe of Judah and Ahaliav ben Achisamach from the tribe of Dan to be the
Master Builder and Designer of this national project. God re-iterates the
commandment of the Shabbat and reminds Moshe that anyone who violates it will
be put to death and his/her soul will be cut of from the people. The next part Bnai Yisroel commits the sin of
the Eigel Zahav (Golden Calf): they built and then
worshipped an idol. God wants to wipe out the people but Moshe urges God to
reconsider. Moshe then descends the mountain and becomes just as upset as God,
and he throws down the Shnei Luchot
HaBrit – the Two Tablets of the Covenant. After a day or two when
calm has been restored, Moshe re-ascends the mountain in order to pray for
national forgiveness. Moshe then has an opportunity to experience another
personal revelation even more powerful than the Burning Bush; Moshe has the
opportunity to witness God’s passing before him. Dictated by God, Moshe chisels
the Aseret Diberot into two new
Tablets. He then goes back down the mountain. This time he descends with light
and glory of God emanating from him.
There
are many powerful moments, and deep theological issues raised in this Parsha.
Certainly it seems that the Census has very little to do with the rest of the
Parsha. Yet the Census and the Machatzit
HaSHakel, the half Shekel tax, is
vital. V’Natnu Eish Kofeir Nafsho
L’Adoshem Bifkod Otam V’Lo Yiheyeh Bahem Negef Bifkod Otam – Every man shall give Hashem atonement for
his soul when counting them, so that there will not be plague among them when
counting them. Zeh Yitnu Kol HaOveir
Al Hapkudim Machatzit HaSHekel B’Shekel HaKodesh Esrim Geirah HaShekel Machatzit HaShekel Trumah La’Adoshem
– This shall they give, everyone who
passes through the census, a half shekel of the sacred shekel, the shekel is
twenty geras, half a shekel as a portion to HaSHem (Ex. 30:12-13). It is
not enough to just take a census by counting people as “one, two three…”
Counting in such a manner merely relegates the individual to a numbered status.
However contributing something, in this case a half shekel, the individual is
not relegated to the status of number, but rather a contributor, an equal
contributor to a cause like the next person. Poor or wealthy, it doesn’t
matter. Everyone contributed the same amount. As a result everyone had an equal
stake in the welfare of the community and the maintenance of the Mishkan. By
casting individual gain and personal interest aside, and instead focusing upon
the welfare of the entire community, every individual’s spiritual merit is
merged into every other individual’s spiritual merit; the community becomes
unified and thus able to withstand divine judgment and retribution.
Certainly none of us takes great joy in watching our
hard-earned income leave our pockets and go to the state/Federal government.
Certainly none of us takes great joy in paying our dues or our “Voluntary Contribution”
to the Synagogue. However when something goes awry in our lives, or we need
help we want the government to be involved and helping. Imagine for a moment
where we would be without a place to gather, to learn, to pray, or to educate
our children. We would be swallowed up the larger more secular community and
our collective Jewish identity would be greatly diminished.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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