03/08/2024
Hope you enjoy this dvar Torah from one of our newest projects, the Memphis Jewish Experience
Have a beautiful Shabbos,
THE SILVER FOUNDATION - Vayakel/Shekalim
In this week’s Parsha the Bnei Yisroel contribute all the material required for the building of the Mishkan. All contributions were given with a complete heart with no limitations. There was, however, one exception. Regarding the silver that was needed in the building. Every male adult had to contribute a half shekel. Nobody could give more than a half shekel and nobody could give less than a half shekel. What was it about silver that it was so controlled? To take this question one step further we must appreciate that silver was the material that represents deep love and yearning. The Psalmist in 84:3 describes how his soul yearns to be in the house of HaShem. The word he uses to describe his yearning is ‘nichsefa’ which shares the same root as silver, ‘kesef’. This teaches that silver is the material that expresses our love and yearning to be with HaShem.
More than a religion, Judaism is a relationship between HaShem and His people and love is at the root of this relationship. In fact, the Talmud states that the most important part of performing mitzvos is the heart, the emotional connection to HaShem. In other words, if our performance of mitzvos is lacking emotional feeling, the meaningfulness of our mitzvos is severely diminished.
Why then, of all the materials needed for the Mishkan, should silver, the expression of love, be so regulated in terms of who gives and how much must be given?
Relationships come in many forms. There are husband-wife relationships, parent-child, master-slave, friend-friend and so on. In every relationship there are boundaries. Even though in a healthy relationship there is very much love, nevertheless, there are boundaries. How far one can go, what to expect,what are the responsibilities and more. In all healthy relationships there are positive emotional feelings. In some there are more feelings of fear and awe in others there are more feelings of love and less of awe. Every relationship has its unique mix. When we consider our relationship with HaShem and keep in mind how our every breath is a gift from Him, how our every family member and friend is a gift from Him, we will be filled with an inextinguishable love. If you add to this consideration how our people-hood in general and our communities and society is so blessed and it is all a gift from Him, that love continues to increase.
At the same time, however, when we consider how absolutely infinitely small we are and how we are nothing but a creature of the Creator we are filled with awe. When we further consider our responsibility to Him and recognize how there is nothing we can do that could possibly reciprocate His goodness, that awe continues to increase. Given this tender balance that must be maintained, HaShem instructed every one of us to contribute a half shekel of silver as our expression of our love for Him. We are able to fill that contribution with infinite love. Every fiber of our emotion fills that half shekel. There is no limit to how much love can be packed into our gift. However, in spite of the extreme amount of love that is packed in, the gift itself must not exceed a half shekel.
Perhaps the reason why the silver was used exclusively in creating the foundation of the walls of the Mishkan was because the integrity of love must be found in the boundaries it creates. Our love of HaShem must be unlimited but it must also remain within its proper boundaries.
INspired by Rabbi Paysach Diskind and Rabbi Yitzi Wiener of Achim Baltimore
Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Rosh Chodesh Adar is Sunday and Monday - Don't forget to try and be extra HAPPY!
Noach, Miriam and The Whole Karp Family
MJX - Memphis Jewish Experience
