This week in addition to the weekly Torah portion we read from a second Torah. The second reading was Exodus Chapter 30 Verses 11-16 dealing with the taking of census via collection of half shekels. I had intended to speak on the topic of the recurring Torah theme of how tragedy leads to success. This happened when King David took a census and a plague broke out killing 70,00 people. Through that episode the site of the future temple was identified and purchased. You can read about that in the last chapter of Samuel II and Chronicles I chapter 21. Also see Ramban / Nachmanides comment on Number 16 verse 21 where he explains why King David sinned and others died. I addressed the topic earlier in the week at a lunch and learn and even with a full hour was not able to adequately explore the issue. Therefore I decided not to try and squeeze it into a 20 shabos morning drasha. I encourage you to look at the sources I have cited. I am sure you will find it rewarding.
Instead I confined myself to the issue of why a census can lead to a plague if we don't use the holy shekel to atone. What do we need to atone for anyway? Also I quoted the Gemara (Jerusalem Talmud, Tractate Shekalim) that says that when Hashem commanded Moshe to take the shekel he couldn't grasp the instruction until he was shown a fiery shekel. What was so hard to grasp about a coin?
The answer to the first question is that a census is limiting. The items counted become mere ciphers. #46 or #73. Furthermore the item is what it is and no more than that. Jews are different. Their lives have impact all around the world and throughout the heavens. Also we might count the Jews and feel we only have a small number and become disheartened or think in a constricted fashion. Therefore whenever we count Jews we do it by taking the Holy Shekel and donating it to the Temple. We are reminding ourselves that we are not just what we see , mere ciphers , but holy shekels whose existence is to serve Hashem. Moshe struggled to understand how the Holy shekel overcomes that. This Hashem explained to him by showing him a vision of a fiery shekel. The flaming shekel goes beyond a coin. It is holy and it can burn just like the Torah and is just like the nefesh of a Jew. By the way shekel is spelled shin,300 kuf ,100 lamed,30 = 430 nefesh (life) nun ,50 pay,80 shin, 300= 430
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