This Shabbat, an extra Torah scroll is removed from the Aron, and we read from it the portion of the Torah when Moshe counted Israel by their donating a half-shekel coin to the Mishkan (Sanctuary). This portion is the beginning of Parshat Ki Tisa (Shemot, 30:11-16) and it begins with, “HaShem spoke to Moshe saying, ‘When you will count the heads of the Children of Israel…’”

The Midrash Tanchumah records Moshe having said to HaShem, “When I die I will leave no remembrance.” HaShem responded, “By your life, just as you ‘zokef et roshan,’ count the heads of Israel now, so too every year when the portion is read will it be as if you are standing there counting them again.” That is why the parsha begins with, “Ki tisa et Rosh B’nai Yisrael,” “When you will count the heads of the Children of Israel.” Interestingly, the language the Midrash uses to say “count” is “zokef,” which really means to raise up. Just as Moshe raised up their heads that year, so too will he every year. What is this promise that HaShem is making to Moshe?

The Gemorah Megilla tells us, Resh Lakish said, “It was well known to He, at Whose word the world came into being, that Haman would one day pay shekalim for Israel’s destruction. HaShem therefore pre-empted Haman’s shekalim with Israel’s shekalim. As it is taught in the Mishnah (Shekalim), ‘On the first of Adar a proclamation went out regarding the shekel.’” Every year, on the first of Adar, the Bet Din sent out the word to the people that the time for donating the half-shekel is near. What was it about the shekel donation that it merited us protection from Haman’s shekalim? Also, if Resh Lakish wanted proof for the annual counting, why not bring the proof from this Torah portion of Ki Tisa? Why resort to a Mishnah?

The answer lies in the language used by the Mishnah. “On the first of Adar, ‘mashmi’in al hashekalim,’ a proclamation went out regarding the shekel.” The word mashmi’in is from the root shema which normally means hear. “On the first of Adar we heard about the shekalim,” seems like a more accurate translation.

When the 10 sons of Yaakov stood before the viceroy, Yosef, for the very first time, it says, “V’hem lo yadu ki Yosef shomayah,” “And they did not know that Yosef ‘shomayah,’ heard, ‘ki hamalitz benotam,’ for an interpreter stood between them.” The Pasuk makes no sense. Here, the word Shomayah has to mean “understood” for the verse to make sense. Returning to the Mishnah Shekalim the translation now reads, “On the first of Adar an understanding went out regarding the shekel.” What was understood regarding the shekel? That Moshe would be with us every year when we donated the half-shekel coin.

It says at the end of Devarim, regarding Moshe’s last moments, that HaShem showed him all the land of Israel. From Dan to Naftali to Efraim to Menashe. All the land of Judah until the yam acharon, last sea. Chazal say read yam acharon as yom acharon, last day. HaShem showed Moshe all the trials and tribulations of Israel until the very last day of world history. Moshe saw Israel drifting in a sea of exiles, trying to fortify ourselves against every passing wave which tried to drag us under. HaShem promised Moshe saying, “Don’t worry. Even after you die you will be there every year for the head count. You will be there to ‘zokef et roshan,’ to raise their heads up above the waters of the thrashing sea of anti-Semitism and assimilation.”

Shabbat Shalom!

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