Capitalism seems to be working for most of us in the United States. Yet, just like every man-made system, it has its drawbacks. There are three negative attitudes that can result from living in a capitalist society.
a) For the large majority of us who are not scraping the bottom of the barrel, there can be a tendency to waste money on petty, foolish and unproductive things. We lose our appreciation for the value of pocket change or small money. After all, I can spare a dollar or two.
b) Those that have been blessed with great success and have amassed a large fortune, can sometimes delude themselves into thinking that they can succeed alone and don't need the little guys.
c) People on the lowest rungs of the financial ladder can grow despondent and lose hope of ever making a true impact on society.
This week, in addition to reading the weekly Torah portion of Mishpatim during Shabbat services, we will read an extra Parsha - Parshat Shekalim. This portion of six verses deals with the mitzvah of Machatzit Hashekel - the annual half shekel tax.
In Temple times, the Jews were obligated to pay several taxes for the upkeep of the Temple service, to provide support for the Priestly and Levite families and to care for the poor and destitute. The specific amounts of these taxes varied based on the individual. If one harvested a large crop, his taxes were considerably higher than one who had yielded a smaller crop.
There was one tax that obligated everyone to give an equal amount. Every day, the Temple service would begin each morning with a Korban Tamid, a communal sacrifice offered on the Alter and close with a communal sacrifice offered in the late afternoon. On Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and Festivals there was an additional prescribed amount of communal sacrifices as well. These communal sacrifices were an essential element of G-d's relationship with His people.
The livestock used for these communal sacrifices was purchased with money from a special communal account. Each year, during the month of Adar, every Jew was obligated to hand over a half shekel - a value of less than $7 - to the Temple collector to be deposited in the communal sacrifice account. By giving a paltry sum once a year, every single Jew was represented before G-d with the entire nation every morning and afternoon.
You see what can be accomplished with seven bucks? This teaches us the value of every dollar. Appreciate the huge potential your money has for good and spend it wisely. Even a small sum can have a major impact.
There is an important thing you should know about this Community Sacrifice Account. Amounts larger than a half shekel per individual were not accepted. If a fabulously wealthy and philanthropic Jew wished to foot the bill of the daily sacrifices for the entire year - a huge expense - the response would be unequivocal. It is a generous offer and the money can surely be used for many worthy causes - but the daily relationship between G-d and the Jewish people cannot be funded by one individual. At the same time - one half shekel cannot purchase even one sacrifice. For the financial elite to be represented daily in the Temple - they needed the combined contributions of the entire community.
Finally, no one was absolved of this minimal obligation. No matter the circumstances, this amount was collected from even the poorest of the poor. Their half shekel was needed to complete the picture.
So remember, money is powerful and every dollar should be used wisely. Even if you may be blessed with financial, intellectual or social success you still need the rest of the community. And no matter how little you may have - you can also make a great impact.