The Greatness of Torah Giants and their insights into Today - and Yesterday - and Tomorrow!

 

The Whole people - men and women - contribute (cash and materials)  to building this Tabernacle in the Desert

 

This "Mishkan" in the desert is built by Artists working with Moshe Rabaynu

 

For a while nobody complained about anything - maybe a first since the Egyptian Exodus friom Slavery?

 

AND THERE WERE OTHER PERIODS IN OUR HISTORY WHERE EVERYONE KEPT IT TOGETHER, and

 

This Shabbat we read the Rule that EVERYONE contributes a Half Shekel toward Temple Upkeep each year.

 

What has that to do with Purim coming up?

 

Purim - when the exiled Israelites had to deal with Haman - and his paying the silly king 10000 silver pieces for the right to kill all the Israelites!

 

So I interpret what Rav Kook's student Rav Neria taught with a quote from the Medrash that 

 

BECAUSE ALL THE JEWS CONTRIBUTED THE HALF SHEKEL TEMPLE TAX for so many years

 

(gladly like they contributed to BUILDING the Tabernacle

 

and because the Purim story was the BEGINNING OF THE RETURN TO ISRAEL

 

AND THE RE_BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

 

(and because "money talks" as they say ...)

 

THOSE (past and FUTURE) SHEKELS were able to CONTRADICT (in heaven)

 the evil shekels (the bribe ) of Haman (down below)-

 

And turn the disaster of Haman into the Blessings of Mordechai and Esther!

 

Let's get ready in every way for ALL the elevating mitzvas of Purim!

 

Shabat Shalom

 

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz