This week’s Parsha begins with the mitzvah of machatzis hashekel in which a half of a silver shekel was collected from every man twenty years and older. The silver was then melted down to produce the adonim, the silver sockets that formed the foundation of the mishkan, in which the wall-planks were inserted. The silver half shekels were not only collected to create the sockets for the mishkan, they were also collected as part of a census.
Unlike the conventional method of simply counting heads, Hashem commanded Moshe to collect the half shekel, “So that there will not be a plague among them when counting them” (Shemos 30:12). Rashi explains that counting them would place an ayin hara, an evil eye, on them which would bring about a plague.
Why should counting bring about an ayin hara?
Whoever was performing the census would certainly not be thinking ill of the people being counted! This Rashi reveals the true meaning of an ayin hara; the power of an evil eye is that it singles someone out, causing him to receive extra divine scrutiny. No person can stand on their own merits, who can say they have never sinned? It is the collective merit of the Jewish people that protects every one of us. Counting each individual would single them out in this way, which could lead to tragic results.
Hashem therefore commanded a half shekel collection instead. The half shekel represents the exact opposite-the unity of Klal Yisroel. Everyone gives a half shekel, not a whole shekel, because none of us are complete without the other. Even the wealthy people may not give more for this collection, because we are all equals.
The power of unity manifest in the half shekel protects us from plague and it allows Hashem’s Divine presence to dwell among us. That is why the half shekels were used to forge the sockets of the Mishkan, the very foundation of Hashem’s resting place.
The Purim story, that we just read this past week, also teaches us this lesson. When Haman approaches Achashveirosh to request issue of his evil decree to destroy the Jewish people, he describes the Jewish people in a slanderous way, “scattered and dispersed”. Why did Haman choose this one description?
Haman understood that we are only strong when we are united; if we are scattered and dispersed, we become dispensable. When Esther agrees to approach Achashveirosh to beg him to spare the Jewish people, she commands Mordechai, “Go assemble all the Jews to be found in Shushan, and fast for me.” Esther understood that only if the Jews were assembled, if they were fasting and praying together, then their prayers would be answered. This message made it into practice as well, for all future generations we have a mitzvah to give mishloach manos, food gifts to a friend, to increase our brotherly love on Purim.
When thinking about these divrei Torah and reflecting on the current events, it struck me that we are currently experiencing a plague; COVID-19 is spreading rapidly and threatening the lives of many. What I find to be even more striking, is that the only response to COVID-19 is isolation. Those who are infected are put into quarantine for two weeks.
Now, high-risk communities are encouraging community-wide isolation. The Rabbinic Council of Bergen County, NJ has closed all public gatherings, including minyanim and shiva houses. This creates an extra challenge for us to stay connected and remain united through this time-to support those who are ill and those who have relatives who are ill , to call someone who may feel lonely and afraid, to keep our fellow Jews in the forefront of our thoughts and prayers. It is of utmost importance that we remain united and continue to help each other.
In the merit of our unity, may Hashem protect us from the ayin hara that is created through isolation and protect us from the 2020 plague of COVID-19. May Hashem answer our communal prayers, with complete healing for all those who are ill and an end to the spread of this dangerous virus.
May Hashem accept our efforts as our half shekel.