Shekalim Lessons
Parsha Halacha | February 21, 2026
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Shekalim Lessons

Parsha Halacha | February 21, 2026

Shekalim Lessons

In addition to the above, here are three lessons from Parshat Shekalim based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe which one should strive to internalize this Shabbat:

  1. On Your Own, Only Half
    By donating a half-shekel, rather than a whole shekel, it reminds a person that it’s only through another Jew’s donation that his donation is complete. And that the other person’s contribution (both monetarily and in general) is of no less importance than his own. In addition, it reminds us that anything we accomplish is only half of the story because it was the Almighty’s assistance that made it possible.
  2. Force Yourself but Do It with Fire
    According to the Midrash, G-d took a fiery half-shekel from under the Throne of Glory and showed it to Moshe. The purpose of this is to emphasize that every Jew has a G-dly soul (from the Throne of Glory) which has a natural yearning for G-d (like fire which rises upwards).
    The law is that if a Jew refused to give the half shekel in ancient times, the court would take it forcibly. This teaches us that even a Jew who has to be forced to do a mitzvah has the same fire for G-d as every other Jew.
  3. Transforming the Physical
    By giving tzedakah (or doing any mitzvah) with deep sincerity one can transform the physical object with which he did the mitzvah into a spiritual object (by revealing its true, G-dly purpose). [We learn this from the fact that G-d showed Moshe a fiery coin as mentioned above.]

The Highest

Due to the importance of bringing the lessons into our heart, the Ruzhiner Rebbe said that this Shabbat is on a higher level than the other Shabbatot.
This can be compared to a fellow who started chopping wood for a living but found that his production was diminishing every day. He asked his friends why this might be happening,and they asked him if he was sharpening his axe. He said, “I’m so busy chopping wood that I have no time to sharpen the axe.” We counter this foolish attitude by spending time “sharpening the blade” on the Shabbat Hafsakah.

Shekalim Lessons

In addition to the above, here are three lessons from Parshat Shekalim based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe which one should strive to internalize this Shabbat:

  1. On Your Own, Only Half
    By donating a half-shekel, rather than a whole shekel, it reminds a person that it’s only through another Jew’s donation that his donation is complete. And that the other person’s contribution (both monetarily and in general) is of no less importance than his own. In addition, it reminds us that anything we accomplish is only half of the story because it was the Almighty’s assistance that made it possible.
  2. Force Yourself but Do It with Fire
    According to the Midrash, G-d took a fiery half-shekel from under the Throne of Glory and showed it to Moshe. The purpose of this is to emphasize that every Jew has a G-dly soul (from the Throne of Glory) which has a natural yearning for G-d (like fire which rises upwards).
    The law is that if a Jew refused to give the half shekel in ancient times, the court would take it forcibly. This teaches us that even a Jew who has to be forced to do a mitzvah has the same fire for G-d as every other Jew.
  3. Transforming the Physical
    By giving tzedakah (or doing any mitzvah) with deep sincerity one can transform the physical object with which he did the mitzvah into a spiritual object (by revealing its true, G-dly purpose). [We learn this from the fact that G-d showed Moshe a fiery coin as mentioned above.]

The Highest

Due to the importance of bringing the lessons into our heart, the Ruzhiner Rebbe said that this Shabbat is on a higher level than the other Shabbatot.
This can be compared to a fellow who started chopping wood for a living but found that his production was diminishing every day. He asked his friends why this might be happening,and they asked him if he was sharpening his axe. He said, “I’m so busy chopping wood that I have no time to sharpen the axe.” We counter this foolish attitude by spending time “sharpening the blade” on the Shabbat Hafsakah.

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Parsha Halacha | February 21, 2026