Towards the end of February, we will read in Parashat Terumah how Moses was to fund the building of the Mishkan – the desert abode of God in the midst of the people:
Tell the Israelite people to raise contributions for Me; you shall accept contributions for Me from every person whose heart is so moved… and they will make me a sanctuary, and I shall dwell in their midst. (Exodus 25:2, 8)
Yet just a few weeks later, we will encounter in Parashat Ki-Tisa, a different fundraising system:
This is what everyone who is entered into the records shall pay: …a half-shekel as an offering to G-d… The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than half a shekel. (Exodus 30:12,15)
These are two very different approaches to covering the costs of the Home of God! In the first, the contributions are entirely voluntary. There is no minimum and no maximum. Men and women alike bring contributions of gold and silver, fine cloth and leather, oils and spices for the incense. When the time comes to make the contributions, they bring so much that the craftsmen have to ask them to stop! (Exodus 36:5).
In the second model, the contributions are minimal, yet compulsory. A half shekel from each person: no more, no less.
Why does the Torah require both collections? After all, the voluntary donations were more than enough! What is the value of raising half a shekel from each one?
Our rabbis insist that not a single word is wasted in Torah. Therefore, the two fundraising schemes must be in the text to teach us two distinct lessons. To my mind, the half-shekel contribution allows each member of the community to stand up and be counted in a way that is accessible to all. Even the least wealthy member of the community can look at the house of God and say “I helped build that!” Meanwhile, the voluntary donation invites those of more means to consider what the enterprise means to them.
Our community is currently facing a fundraising challenge. We have seen the need to make our sanctuary and vestry accessible to people for whom stairs are an obstacle – whether they are wheelchair-bound, are managing a stroller, or have legs that are not as steady as they once were. We are excited to welcome to our sanctuary people who previously could only attend our services remotely, but we need to raise some significant funds to cover the cost. Wouldn’t it be great if every one of us could contribute at least a symbolic “half shekel” of $36 or $180, so we could each point to the lift and be able to honestly say “I helped build that!”? On top of that, I would like to invite “every person whose heart is so moved” to contribute what they can. Who knows, perhaps a miracle will occur, and we, like the builders of the Mishkan, will have more than enough for the holy undertaking!
Reb Josh
