VOLUME 119 NUMBER 9
Adar 17, 5786
March 6, 2026
Parshas KiSisa
Candlelighting Time 5:40
Klal Yisroel made donations for the construction of the Mishkan and also for purchasing sacrifices. There was a specific amount to be given for the offerings, a half shekel. The Torah clearly states that each and every individual must give the exact same amount. The wealthy man should not increase his donation nor should the poor individual give less. Seemingly, this statement is superfluous since the mitzvah was stated to given only a half shekel, thereby eliminating the choice to give more or less. Why was it necessary to state this?
Chasam Sofer has a very interesting understating of this verse. The Talmud states that reward for mitzvos is only received in Olam Habah, the next world. Even though it may seem that we are being rewarded in this world, Maimonides explains that we only receive from Hashem resources necessary to continue performing mitzvos. But the actual reward is not in this world.
The Torah stresses this point in this parsha. The wealthy man will not increase his position in this world when he donates the half shekel to the Mishkan. And the poor man will not lose out when he donates his portion to the Mishkan. Sometimes we feel that when we portion out our resources for tzedakah perhaps we are depleting our financial assets. However, this is incorrect, a person does not suffer any kind of loss on account of giving tzedakah and on the contrary, the Talmud states that one should give tzedakah as a merit to increase his financial holdings. Hashem may just reward us with the wherewithal to give even more when we focus upon that mitzvah with great intent and fervor.
Perhaps we can add a caveat why this point is alluded to specifically here. The donations for the Mishkan to purchase the animals to sacrifice actually atoned for our misdeeds. The Talmud states that the two offerings brought every day expiated for the sins of Klal Yisrael. The morning sacrifice attended to the sins that may have been done the night before and the afternoon offering focused on the sins that were perpetrated during the daytime. Perhaps one might view his contribution for the offerings as an exchange for atonement thinking that he benefits from assisting in the purchase of the sacrifices. That could give him the impetus to always expect a return on his tzedakah as a reward for performing that mitzvah. Therefore, the Torah spells out over here that one should not expect a return for doing a mitzva. Actually, the atonement that is achieved when we bring the daily sacrifices is not a reward but that is the purpose of those offerings. The daily sacrifices protect us from punishment that might have been forthcoming for our sins. However, these offerings afford us protection since we achieve atonement for our sins through them.
And we may add that the Torah only wanted each person to give a half shekel because in that vein we realize that when we serve Hashem we are not accomplishing the entire obligation upon us. We can never truly serve Hashem with enough fervor and intent to repay Him for all the good that we merit. As we leave the Yom Tov of Purim when we realize that all that occurs is only what Hashem deems is for us benefit then we can prepare for Pesach when we exited from bondage with Hashem’s assistance and we can have an ongoing recognition of the appreciation that we owe to Hashem.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
Whenever we make a census of the nation even for just economic or demographic reasons we must always do so with a donation and not count people themselves. Perhaps when we single out people then they are looked upon individually and not as a part of the entirety of the nation which is not a constructive policy. RAV DOVID FEINSTEIN
GOOD SHABBOS
