half shekel | Imamother

amother

Thu, Feb 21 2013, 10:40 pm

מחצית השקל a mitzva that klal yisroel gave the same amount towards the korbonos of the משכן in parshas teruma and also for communal korbonos in the times of the בית המקדש. It is well known that the reason for everyone giving the same amount is simply that we are all the same. The rich, the poor, the scholar, the unlearned, etc.

Since taanis esther is moved up due to the normal fast י'ג אדר falling out on shabbos, we also move up the time we give 1/2 shekel to tzadaka. Which some people say should be done before mincha on taanis esther while others say it should be before hearing/reading megillas esther either at night or on purim morning. The machatzis ha'shekel should be given in remembrance of the korbonos rather than as a kappara to ask forgiveness. Since it is an obligation one may not give the 1/2 shekel from maaser monies.

We continue to give 1/2 shekel to remind us we must learn to be b'achdus. In unity we can learn to love our neighbor as oneself. Once moshiach comes and the world will be solely to know Hashem, we will no longer need the reminder to be humbled. Therefore the 1/2 shekel will then become a complete shekel.

the word is made up of 5 letters צ in the middle מת at either end חי closest to the center
מחצית