Dvar Torah

Every month I receive the topic for the e-zine. Every month I have fun finding a way to relate the D’var Torah to the theme. This month things on the surface are simpler. The theme is: Questions Stemming from the Torah. With this I can talk about anything.

Asking questions is truly integral to our tradition.

The first thing that comes to mind is the debate over whether or not we will have sacrifices if the Messiah comes. This is important because so many of the texts of our tradition discuss the sacrificial system. However, the other goal I set for myself when deciding what to write about is making things applicable to the average college student. Most of this month’s readings focus on the construction of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle in the desert).

I want to focus on a short part of Parashat Ki Tissa: the census. Statistics are integral to our studies, so I will focus on those. Based on an instance in the Torah in which a census was conducted incorrectly and was immediately followed by a deadly plague, there are those who say we are not supposed to count other Jews. One often hears that observant Jews check if there’s a minyan (the quorum of ten people required for prayer) by counting, "Not one, not two, not…" Or they start a prayer that has ten words, "Hoshi’a et amekha…" If a census must be conducted, it must be conducted properly. We learn how to do this from this Parashat Ki Tissa. Each person must give a half shekel coin.

This is the all-important question that I have chosen this month; why a half shekel? In the Jewish tradition the question is often more important than the answer, yet it would be a very short D’var Torah if I had no answers to my question. In fact I have several.

A lesson taught in this practice is how not to embarrass people. At the time, the half shekel was a very low monetary value that even the poor could afford. This way, people were not embarrassed by their financial position. Additionally, it puts everyone on an even keel. No one could claim to be better than anyone else. As much as I praise non-conformity, there are limits and it is not worth the risk of shaming someone else.

However, my favorite response is also on the concept of equality. The fact is that two halves equal a whole. It is not conformity, rather, it is unity. Especially in these trying times, we as Jews must stand together. Alone we are nothing; I know I’m preaching to the choir. The fact that you read this shows an attachment to Jewish life on campus. Good for you. Yet, so many students go through university alone and this should not be the case. Humans are social beings. I urge you all to make a new friend today. Not only will it make your life more full, but it may broaden another life as well. Good luck!