Summary of The Maftir:
Maftir Shekalim
This week, in addition to the regular Parsha, we read Parshas Shekalim.
Parshas Shekalim is the first of the four special Shabbosim preceding Pesach
when additional portions from the Torah are read. Shekalim is read on the
Shabbos that precedes the month of Adar, or the Shabbos of Rosh Chodesh Adar
(when Rosh Chodesh and Shabbos coincide).
A key function of the Bais Hamikdash (Temple) was the offering of the daily, korban
- public sacrifices. The designation of "public" was because every male adult,
20 years and older, donated a 1/2 Shekel toward the purchase of the communal
sacrifices. These moneys were gathered and used to purchase the daily public
offerings.
The law demands that all sacrifices must be purchased from moneys
collected for that year. The fiscal year for public offerings was from Nissan
to Nissan. Therefore, the Rabbi's ordained that the portion of the Torah
describing the first giving of the 1/2 Shekel be read on the Shabbos of or
before Rosh Chodesh Adar, one month before the 1/2 shekel was due, as a
reminder that everyone should send in their money to the Temple.
Summary of The Haftorah:
Haftorah Shekalim
Melachim II Chapter 12
In honor of Shabbos Shekalim, the Haftorah is designated to reflect the theme
of Shekalim rather than the weekly portion of Mishpatim. Chapter 12 of II
Kings relates how the young Yeho'ash collected the funds for the rededication
of the Bais Hamikdash.
In the year 3084 - 677b.c.e., Yeho'ash, the King of Yehudah, decided to
strengthen and redecorate the 155 year old Bais Hamikdash. Yeho'ash instituted
a simple system of collection, known today as the "Pushka." A special box was
designated next to the Mizbeach where all collected moneys were deposited.
The money was then counted and given to the contractors who dispersed the
funds, as needed, to the workmen. The Navi specifically states that no
accounting was made with the contractors, because they were men of integrity.
Yeho'ash was the sole survivor from the House of Dovid Hamelech following
their massacre by the hands of Queen Athalya, the daughter of Achav and
Ezevel, and Yeho'ash's own grandmother! (just think what the media would have
done with a story like this) He was saved by his aunt, Yehosheva, the wife of
Yehoyada the Kohein Gadol, who hid him in the Bais Hamikdash for six years.
After those six years, At the age of seven, Yehoyada revealed Yeho'ash's
existence, and coronated him the King of Yehudah to the delight of the people.
Yehoyada was the disciple of Elisha the Navi.
