Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

"This shall they give, every one that passes over to the counted ones, half a shekel in the weights of the Sanctuary…."

A coin of fire

Rashi writes here per the Midrash: "Hashem showed Moshe a likeness of a coin of fire whose weight was half a shekel and said to him: Thus shall they give. Sages in Israel ask – Why did G-d show Moshe a coin specifically of fire?

Rabbi Nachman of Breslev explained as follows:

There is a similarity between fire and money: Fire is, undoubtedly, one of important and essential thing for a person and the world cannot exist without it, but that same fire can also destroy the entire world.

The same is with money: It is important and helpful if one knows how to use it properly (charity, kindness, etc.) but at the same time it can be very dangerous – if it falls into bad hands.

SHABBAT SHALOM!!

Mayer Sasson