1) Our holy sages, the Chazal instituted the reading of 4 special "parshiyos" in (or near) the month of Adar, as a commemoration of 4 special Mitzvos (which we will elaborate on a bit in the next few days)
The first of the "4 Parshiyos" is Parshas Shekalim (which we will iy"H be reading on Shabbos Parshas Pekudei, and can be found in the beginning of Parshas Ki Sisa Perek 30 Pesukim 11 thru 16).
This reading is to commemorate the Mitzvah of "Machtzis Hashekel", the half Shekel coin which every Jew was obligated to give each year to the special fund from which the daily Korbanos Tomid (sacrificial lambs that were offered in the Bais HaMikdash each morning and evening) were purchased.
Although we do not have a Bais HaMikdash today (an unfortunate fact which will change very shortly iy"H with the arrival of Mashiach), we "perform" this Mitzvah by reading about it in the Torah.
2) There are some opinions that this reading is a biblical obligation (Elya Rabba Siman 685 in the name of the Rashba to Brachos 13a who maintains that all 4 Parshiyos are biblical obligations).
However, most Poskim maintain that this Parsha is a rabbinic obligation.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
What is the deal with women and reciting Kiddush Levana?
Answer:
The prevelant custom is for women not to recite Kidush Levana.
See Mogen Avraham Siman 426:1, Chochmas Shlomo 426:1. See also MaHarsha in Chidushei Agados to Sanhedrin 42a.
There are also many mystical reasons given why women may not recite Kidush Levana.
When Mashiach comes, women will once again say Kiddush Levana
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME. THANK YOU AND TIZKEH L'MITZVOS!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk For Today:
"It is equally wrong for a wealthy person to feel superior and speak condescendingly to others because of his wealth, as it is wrong for a poor person to feel inferior and speak submissively because of his lack of money. Both wealth and poverty are circumstances given by Hashem, and are not reflections of a person's value."
Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv Zatzal (Alter from Kelm) quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
