Ki Tisa brings forth the Torah’s ultimate vision of fairness and accountability. With respect to the costs for thr Tent of Meeting, the following edict was issued:
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: When you take the sum of the Children of Israel according to their numbers, let each one give to the Lord an atonement for his soul when they are counted; then there will be no plague among them when they are counted. This they shall give, everyone who goes through the counting: half a shekel according to the holy shekel. Twenty gerahs equal one shekel; half of [such] a shekel shall be an offering to the Lord. The rich shall give no more, and the poor shall give no less than half a shekel, with which to give the offering to the Lord, to atone for your souls. You shall take the silver of the atonements from the Children of Israel and use it for the work of the Tent of Meeting; it shall be a remembrance for the Children of Israel before the Lord, to atone for your souls.” Exodus 30:11-16.
Presently, we live in a world where the wealthy are expected to carry a society’s financial load. We are also a world in which the poor are abdicated from any financial responsibility.
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A society based upon these expectations creates a moral imbalance. As long as the rich pay, they are free to act without accountability. They will cheat, steal and exploit the system. They feel justified in doing so. Likewise, the same attitude is with the poor. They are not subject to accountability. Therefore, they act as if there are no consequences to their actions.
Thus, society has a moral spectrum. Caught in the between is the middle that are left to covet how both the rich and the poor can run amock without accountability. The frightening visions of the sword of Damocle’s is only with their sight.
With Ki Tisa, money simply does not count with respect to division. Rather, it represents a soul. A soul, regardless of one’s wealth or lack off, that matters. A soul that is personally accountable for shortfallings. The Tent of Meeting was a place for all to confront their humanity, their imperfection. They, as a collective, could clean their slates and move towards living an improved life.
In present times, we must ask whether accountability for each individual is the secret sauce for an improved society.
Be well!!
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