While
celebrating Purim and participating in a festive meal; between platefuls of
food and shots of Scotch, a few of the husbands began an interesting
conversation. Being the only American at this Purim Seudah, someone asked “why does
it appear impossible for the most powerful country in the world to provide
universal health care for its citizens?” This was not exactly the question I
was prepared for on Purim. I assumed we were would talk about Haman, Mordechai,
Esther and Persia. I thought we would talk about The Mentsche on The Bench, or the
fact that they read the Megillah in the dugout of the Israel National Baseball
Team’s batting practice prior to its game against Cuba. Maybe we would have
agreed that it is too bad that Iran didn’t have a baseball team in the World
Baseball Classic so that Israel could beat them just like they defeated South Korea,
Chinese Tai Pei, and Cuba. No, it appears that when our friends have lots of Scotch
and an American sitting at the table they like to take their jabs at the United
States, and health care and health insurance seemed to be the topic. Maybe they
had been hearing the mantra of Repeal and Replace. Maybe they heard about
Trumpcare. Maybe they heard about “exploding premiums”, or that millions of a
nation’s poorest will lose their health insurance. Whatever the case, I had to
offer an answer. I answered the question with a question. How is health care
viewed in all of the other industrialize countries where national coverage
exists, including Israel and Canada? Is health care a right of each citizen or
is health care a marketplace item like a car, phone, and milk or internet
service? If it’s the latter, then each citizen pays (or not) for insurance
based upon need and affordability. If it’s the former, then each citizen must accept
the premise that he/she pays into a system that helps the greater good.
Americans are just beginning to realize that it is advantageous to be part of
something bigger than just themselves as their health insurance is about to be
eliminated.
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 geira, 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 Federal government in order
to pay for a variety of goods and services including health insurance. However,
living in Toronto; I hear the criticism of Canadian Health Care and American
Health Care. Canadian society seems so much more civil. The federal government
makes transfer payments to the Province, a payroll deduction tax contributes to
funding OHIP as does a percentage of income tax. Everyone contributes because
everyone derives a benefit. As a result, the linkage between citizenry and the
social fabric of society is strengthened. Thousands of years ago, Moses
understood this with the Machatzit HaShekel as a way of financing the Mishkan.
Nowadays every industrialized country including Israel and Canada understand
this importance of making a commitment to its citizens. Hopefully the leaders
south of the border can figure it out, despite President Trump’s tweet: “nobody
knew that health care could be so complicated!”
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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