 272x142.gif "Silver Half-sheqel 22 C.E.") |  300x147.gif "Half-sheqel (68 C.E.)") |
Silver half-shëq′ël (22 C.E., found in Ir-Dâ•wid′ ); struck under Roman occupation and in use during lifetime of Rib′ i Yᵊho•shu′ a. After the coinage of Tyre was debased under Roman control, some experts believe Herod the Great began to strike "Tyre" shᵊqal•im′ in Yᵊru•shâ•la′yim. These coins were of cruder material and style, but maintained the silver purity required to pay the Beit ha-Miq•dâsh′ tax. | Silver Half-shëq′ ël minted in Yᵊru•shâ•la′ yim in 68 C.E. (year 3 of First Revolt). Obverse: Qi•dush′ cup with inscription "shëq′ ël Yi•sᵊr•â•eil′ . Year 3". Reverse: Three budding pomegranates with inscription "Yᵊru•shâ•la′ yim ha-Qo′ dësh" |
Note that one doesn't handle money on Shab•ât′. This is no exception.
This is the Shab•ât′ preceding, or coinciding with, the first day of the last month of the Judaic year (A•dâr′ – A•dâr′ II in leap years ― in the Babylonian calendar), in which messengers were sent out to all Jewish communities to collect the half-shëq′ël tax to maintain the Beit ha-Miq•dâsh′.
In modern times, the annual half-
There is a primary distinction between financing the building of the Beit ha-Miq•dâsh′, on the one hand, and funding the maintenance of the Beit ha-Miq•dâsh′ after it had been built, on the other hand.
The Beit ha-Miq•dâsh′ represented the Tor•âh′-focused work of é--ä on earth. Several aspects are, therefore, especially noteworthy and applicable to the Tor•âh′-focused work of é--ä today:
As always, the teachings of Yehoshua Ben-Yoseiph Ben-Dawid ha-Mashiakh are in complete harmony with Tor•âh′ and ancient Judaism. While it's unclear whether Yehoshua was a carpenter or a metalworker (smith), it is documented that he completed his education, training and apprenticeship in an occupation which earned a good income. Every indication is that Yehoshua lived a comfortable, but not conspicuously extravagant, lifestyle consistent with a carpenter or metalworker (lucrative professions of that era; metalworking would have been "the" scientific hi-tech and research profession of the day)—his training and occupation. Nowhere in The Netzarim Reconstruction of Hebrew Matityahu does Yehoshua appeal to crowds in raising funds for his work—which then inexplicably wind up in his pocket.
This provides a cogent link to next week's parashah—fittingly the final parashah of Shemot—which focuses on responsible and proper accounting by a responsible leader of all income contributed to work circumscribed by Tor•âh′.
This Ma•phƏtir′ for Shab•ât′ Shᵊqal•im′, which is appended after the usual Tor•âh′ pâ•râsh•âh′, replaces the usual weekly Ma•phƏtir′.
Note for advanced tal•mid•im′ : Because the îÇôèÄéø is not within the week's úÌåÉøÈä section, a second ñÅôÆø úÌåÉøÈä, previously scrolled to the îÇôèÄéø section, is brought out for the îÇôèÄéø. During the return of the 1st ñÅôÆø úÌåÉøÈä to the àÂøåÉï ÷ÉãÆùÑ and the bringing to the áÌÄéîÈä of the 2nd ñÅôÆø úÌåÉøÈä, úÌÀäÄìÌÄéí é"è is recited by the ÷ÀäÄìÌÈä.
îìëéí á' é"á à'-é"æ
(Mᵊlâkh•im′ Beit 12.1-17).
This selection for this special Shab•ât′ takes precedence over the usual Ha•phƏtâr•âh′ selection for this week's pâ•râsh•at′ sha•vu′a.
The Ha•phƏtâr•âh′ for Shab•ât′ Shᵊqal•im′ records the divinely endorsed divergence of the funding of Kohan•im′ and the animal sacrifice system from the continuing support of the Beit ha-Miq•dâsh′—i.e. the Tor•âh′-focused work of é--ä on earth.
In pasuq 3 we find that Yehoash ha-Melekh did what was "éùø" (yashar; the straight [thing], what was straight) in the eyes of é--ä during all the days that Yehoyada ha-kohein taught him. We find in pasuq 10 that Yehoyada ha-kohein is still working with Yehoash ha-Melekh. Therefore, the actions of Yehoash ha-Melekh in the interim are endorsed by é--ä as "éùø."
In this interim, pasuq 8, Yehoash ha-Melekh ordered that funds for the maintenance of the Beit ha-Miq•dâsh′—the Tor•âh′-focused work of é--ä on earth—no longer be paid to the Kohanim.
In contrast with offerings, the half-sheqel tax, etc., opinions are divided concerning whether, subsequent to the destruction of the Beit ha-Miq•dâsh′ and cessation of the animal sacrifice system, ma·asrot were also intended to thereafter be diverted to the Tor•âh′-focused work of é--ä on earth, or simply terminated. Tor•âh′ gives neither basis nor precedent for simply terminating divinely ordained mitzwot like ma·asrot.
In fact, it is the explicit teaching of Tor•âh′ that nothing be added or eliminated. Yehoshua confirmed this principle declaring that not the smallest letter or even cantillation accent of Tor•âh′ would be removed from Tor•âh′ as long as the earth and heavens remain. Moreover, the edict of Yehoash ha-Melekh is precedent for redirecting such funding to those who would subsequently do the Tor•âh′-focused work of é--ä on earth.
The implication is compelling: all financial support of the Tor•âh′-focused work of é--ä on earth subsequent to the divinely endorsed edict of Yehoash ha-Melekh and the later destruction of the Beit ha-Miq•dâsh′ with its associated cessation of animal sacrifice became due no longer to the pseudo-Ko•han•im′ Tzᵊdoq•im′ , but, rather, to the Pᵊrush•im′ successors who assumed the Tor•âh′-focused work of é--ä on earth after the destruction of the Beit ha-Mi•qᵊdâsh′ .
Together, these factors preclude fund-raising and begging. The teacher of Tor•âh′ is to teach this mitzwah just like every other mitzwah. There is no justification for pleadings for financial support (especially "creative" types of financial fund-raising never contemplated in Tor•âh′), or begging, both of which are incompatible with the teachings of Tor•âh′ (again, Tehilim 37.23-26). Income is due—owed to as obligated in Tor•âh′—those who are actually doing the Tor•âh′-focused work of é--ä on earth. Tor•âh′ defines failure to pay these obligations, for whatever reason, as cheating é--ä (Malakhi 3.8-9).
Ma·asrot were applied to different needs according to the seven-year shemitah cycle. One can easily calculate a given year of the seven-year shemitah cycle. After dividing the current year on the Judaic calendar (this year is 5760) by 7 the remainder (not the dividend) indicates the year of the seven-year shemitah cycle. Mathematicians and scientists call this function modulo 7. (Your Windows calculator has the "Mod" function in the Scientific view. Just enter 5760, click on the "Mod" button, enter 7, and then click on "=." This is the sixth year of the shemitah cycle. Next year is a shemitah year.) Particulars concerning what one is required to do during specific years of the shemitah cycle are found in "The Netzarim Reconstruction of Hebrew Matityahu" (NHM), and this note, NHM 23.23.2, is posted in the 'Netzarim Quarter' for the convenience of those who haven't yet obtained NHM.
It's customary, in Israel only, sometime before Purim (not on Shabat, of course) to commemorate the half-₪ tax by placing ₪5 (inflation since the times of the Beit-ha-Miqdâsh) in a plate designated for this purpose, in the local Orthodox Beit-ha-Kᵊnësët. The Nᵊtzarim feel that this custom should be observed by Torah-keepers everywhere in the world. You can find the current rate of exchange for your currency from one of the Israeli newspaper websites. Then contribute that approximate amount, rounded off to your own currency (or as the local Orthodox rabbi advises), to your local local Orthodox Beit-ha-Kᵊnësët. If you aren't attending a local Orthodox Beit-ha-Kᵊnësët, you should make your contribution through Beit ha-Kᵊneset Moreshet Avot – Yad Na·ami (details in our Treasury page).
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