The Ninth section of the Book / Chumash of Exodus tells of G-d’s instruction to Moses to take a census of all adult males by collecting a silver half – shekel coin from each one. This fund was used to purchase those sacrifices offered up on behalf of the Jewish people. The portion concludes with the incident of the Golden Calf and its aftermath.

G-d tells Moses: “this is what everyone must give: a half-shekel, of the shekel used for holy purposes, which weighs 20 geirah.”

The half shekel was an expression of Jewish unity – rich and poor alike gave the same amount. Everyone gave only half a shekel to teach us that we can only achieve unity when we all recognise that we are all halves. To be a complete shekel, we must unite with our fellow.

Similarly, we are also only a “half” in our relationship with G-d. The ten powers of the soul – our intellect and emotions – parallel the ten powers that G-d used in creating the world and continues to use to constantly re-create. When we channel all ten powers of our soul – every nuance of our being – toward uniting with G-d and fulfilling our Divine mission, we align our soul powers with G-d’s attributes. Our ten becomes twenty – a holy shekel.

With our continued prayers for peace in Eretz Yisroel, world peace with Moshiach.

Wishing you meaningful Shabbos and successful week to follow.