12 Adar: Remember Your Other Half
REMEMBER YOUR OTHER HALF
This they shall give…, half a shekel according to the holy shekel…. The rich shall give no more, and the poor shall give no less than half a shekel as an offering to the L-rd to atone for your souls.
(Shemos 30:13-15)
Before Purim, we give a half-shekel coin (or its equivalent) to charity. The half-shekel shows that each of us is only half; we need to connect to another Jew to be complete. It also shows us that on a certain level, every Jew is equal, and, for that reason, each contribution is the same. The rich cannot give more and the poor cannot give less.
Yet, to achieve true unity with one’s fellow, we must also unite with G-d. We must realize that G-d and man are like two halves of one coin. Realizing this allows us to see beyond our differences and achieve true unity.
Practically, we must feel for others and give charity generously, without limit. With this vehicle, we hasten the time when G-d will deal charitably with us by gathering the Jewish People for the Final Redemption.
Sefer HaSichos 5752 vol. 2 pg. 440
