Midreshet Amit

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Rashi explains that every time that Hashem tells Moshe a Mitzvah and says the word “Zeh” it means that Moshe had trouble understanding how to perform the mitzvah and Hashem had to create a picture to show Moshe the right way. As an example – Moshe had trouble understanding how to make the Menorah for the Mishkan from one piece of Gold – so Hashem had to show him. In Our Parsha, Hashem tells Moshe that he should take a census of Bnei Yisrael using a Machasit HaShekel. Moshe did not understand what a shekel looked like so according to the Midrash; Hashem showed him a coin of fire and told him to use this (“zeh”).

The obvious question is why did Moshe have such a problem understanding what a shekel looked like – making a coin does not seem to be so difficult (of course I have never made one myself – but I think I could if I needed to).

In reality Moshe knew how to make a stam coin. What he had an issue with, was how could something so Gashmi – physical be used to raise up the entire people, as it says in the beginning of the parsha “Ki Tisa” (translated as when you raise up). How is it possible that something that represents the physical can have an affect on the spiritual?

Hashem shows him a coin of fire – bederech mashal – the fire is also physical but can be used in many ways often for the sake of the spiritual. In essence he was showing Moshe that the physical world is just a tool that is neither good or bad, spiritual or non. It is how we use the physical that determines what it will be. This lesson seems to fit very well with the holiday of Purim. All the merrymaking can be a very physical activity that even though for Purim is in essence nothing more than a physical experience. Or we can transform the activity into something holy that actually brings us closer to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

What power we have – we have the ability to use all that is around us as a means of drawing closer to Hashem. Whether it is a college class, a meal, an  hour of exercise or a nap. Everything can be used – when used properly, with the right intention – for the sake of Hashem As an old student of mine used to say all the time (quoting Spiderman) "With great power comes great responsibility." This use of the physical can go both ways. May we all learn how to use the world around us to do Hashem’s will and in turn may it be Hashem’s will that He makes it easier for us to serve him through the world around us

Shabbat Shalom