As we enter the second year of the restoration of the custom
of giving the Holy Half-Shekel, we find ourselves in a critical
battle to sustain the achievements of last year, while
continuing to restore vital functions, with the knowledge that
complete rehabilitation will takes years to achieve.
The euphoria over last year's restoration now subsides to the
less exciting task of maintaining the custom, and reaching out
to ever more communities to participate. Energies that were
tapped that answered to a desire to "rebel" against the
prolongation of the Exile, are less moved to sustain this
effort.
As we approached Purim, we realized that we did not have the
means to activate the second chest for OLD SHEKELS. As we
explained in an earlier update, the temporary Custodian for
Hekdesh did not have the physical space to house the second
chest, and at any rate we were looking to establish the Lishkah
- Moked Hekdesh (the Hekdesh Center) in the Jewish Quarter of
the Old City, Jerusalem with ready public access, staffed by
Levites on Duty, salaried by Tithe contributions from the
public.
As we could not place the chests, resonsibility demanded that we
hold off from activating the chest for OLD SHEKELS, and maintain
just the chest for NEW SHEKELS at its current location. The
chest for OLD SHEKELS sits unused waiting...
As we are facing an election in two months we have decided to
delay distribution of this year's Half-Shekels to the Ministers
and Knesset members until after the new Knesset is seated.
On February 24th we hand delivered First Strike Proof specimen
Half-Shekels to the offices of the Chief Rabbis Israel Meir Lau
and Eliyahu Bakshi Doron, as well as the offices of the previous
Chief Rabbis Ovadia Yosef, Mordecai Eliyahu, and Avraham
Shapira. We were received politely by all with the exception of
our famous Rabbi Frank, Chief Rabbi Lau's assistant. When I
approached him to give him Rabbis Lau's Half-Shekel, he growled
"Don't give me anything, I don't know you!" Unperturbed I left
the Half-Shekel with the secretary on my way out. On February
26th we found out who our mysterious 'unhapppy camper' was. We
received a large government envelope post-marked from the Chief
Rabbinate's Office containing the year 51 Proof Half-Shekel, the
photos and Halachiic questions we submitted to Rabbi Lau, as
well as the key to the third Trumat HaLishkah lockbox from last
year that sits in the Chief Rabbinate's safe. Aha! As you may
recall we received back anonymously, one of the keys to the
first Trumat HaLishkah lockbox, one day after it was delivered.
We never did find out who had sent back the key. Now we know. It
was our very own Rabbi Frank! Now the question arises; Does
Rabbi Lau even know what this man is doing in his name?
Whereas last year we feared that non-cooperation on the part of
the Chief Rabbinate could scuttle the entire endeavor, with the
completion of an entire year's cycle, and the beginning of a
second year's cycle, the cooperation or lack of from the Chief
Rabbinate is inconsequential. The ideal circumstance of a Beit
Din soley responsiible for Hekdesh will eventually evolve; most
likely after the Chief Rabbinate tries to block delivery of the
Hekdesh, creating a 'hot-potato' that no one wants to take
responsibility for.
On March 5th, we hand-delivered a First Strike Proof specimen
Half-Shekel to Beit HaNasi (The President's House). Last year we
received no response from the President, so this year we turned
to the First Lady. On March 8th we received a phone call from
Mrs. Weizman's personal secretary, followed three days later by
an encouraging letter. It seems that "in the merit of the women
we were redeemed from Egypt" still applies. In the merit of the
women we will be redeemed once again!
As you remember, one of our questions to the Sages is "When is
the last day of the year to give New Shekels?" As we approached
Purim, we were faced with a new question, ie. "When is the first
day of the year to give New Shekels?" As last year's shekels can
not be used in the Temple to pay for this year's Service, it is
an important question. (The new fiscal year for the Temple is
Rosh Chodesh Nisan [the first of the month of Nisan].) Any
Half-Shekels contributed into the chest for NEW SHEKELS after
the third Trumat HaLishkah ceremony must be removed prior to the
giving of the new Half-Shekels the following Adar. From Rosh
Chodesh Adar, when we made announcement concerning the
Half-Shekel, people started to send them in even before Purim.
This leads us to believe that the last day to give the
Half-Shekel for the current year is Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar the
following year, and that on Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar the chest for
NEW SHEKELS must be emptied of last year's Half-Shekels. We
therefore, in the presence of Levites, removed those
Half-Shekels that were contributed since Rosh HaShanah into a
lockbox labelled HEKDESH - MOTAR SHEARITH HALISHKAH - EREV PURIM
- 5759. That lockbox will be delivered by Brinks together with
the first Trumat HaLishkah lockbox to the Chief Rabbinate's
Office on Erev Rosh Chodesh Nisan (March 17th, 1999.)
Trumat HaLishkah is the three baskets of coins removed three
times a year prior to the three Pilgrimage Festivals, and
Shearith HaLishkah is all the remaining coins after the removal
of the three basketfuls, plus all the coins given in to OLD
SHEKELS, as old shekels can not go to fund the Temple Service.
All Half-Shekels that are contributed after Rosh HaShanah fall
to Shearith HaLishkah.
Any funds that remain from the previous year, come Rosh Chodesh
Nisan the following year, take on a new status, called Motar
(Remainder) Trumath HaLishkah or Motar Shearith HaLishkah, and
are provided with a new function by the Halachah, ie. making
Ministering Vessels for the Temple etc.
The three lockboxes in the Chief Rabbinate's safe will revert
automatically to Motar Trumath HaLishkah come the first of
Nisan, and they will be joined by the lockbox of Motar Shearith
HaLishkah and the first lockbox of Trumath HaLishkah for this year.
We are aware that we often anticipate universal participation at
the moment of vision, and that it more often takes a
considerable amount of time for the public to catch up with the
vision brought down by individuals. This time lag often causes
the visionary to lose heart, as many times the vision only
catches hold years after the demise of the seer.
The road to universal participation is a long road indeed. Right
now we are crawling. Next comes walking, then running.
Eventually we will arrive at our destination.
The only impediment today to the fulfillment of our ancient
destiny is lethargy. There is no Roman Emporer telling us NO! No
person or thing prevents us from achieving our aims, only lack
of belief, lack of interest, and lack of will.
To all who pray with their lips, from cholent to cholent, be
advised: The time has come to stop pretending. We no longer pray
that game! There is much work to be done. Let's get to it!
SHEKEL UPDATE:
Rosh Chodesh Adar, 5759
On the first of Adar we make announcement regarding the
Half-Shekel!
The year 51 Half-Shekels are available. The excitement starts
all over again. With Purim just two weeks away, work is
proceeding on the chest for Old Shekels, and G-d willing, it
will be ready in time for Purim.
A half page ad in the Jerusalem Post International edition hit
the streets today, Rosh Chodesh Adar, announcing the Half-Shekel
in fulfilment of Mishnah Shekalim 1:1. Last year we had a donor
come foward who covered a full page ad in the Internatonal as
well as a same size ad in the national edition (distributed
within Israel). This year, facing a deadline, and not having a
donor, we took out the smaller ad in the international (at a
cost of $2,000) and no ad appeared within Israel. Likewise,
neither last year nor this year, did any ad appear in the Hebrew
press.
In the last year, we have received thousands of e-mails, faxes,
letters, and phone calls, congratulating, blessing, and
encouraging us to continue with the incredible work that was
accomplished last year. Yet, why is it that everyone leaves it
to us to be responsible to do and pay for everything that is
required in this massive undertaking, which is done on behalf of
the entire Jewish people and the world at large? It is like together we
created a 'child' and yet we are left to single-parent it.
Every dollar of revenue from the sale of the Half-Shekels and
their related products, goes into furthering the project.
Nonetheless, the start up costs are beyond sales revenue at this
point, and we have been covering everything by taking on
personal debt. We are used to this situation, we have been
working without salary or budget for 16 years now. At some point
though more of you are going to have to clarify your priorities,
and join in taking responsibilty, if we are to see this House
rebuilt.
We put in a bid with the Corporation for the Restoration of the
Jewish Quarter, Old City Jerusalem, for a small shop in the
Cardo, to establish the Lishka - Moked Hekdesh, for public
access to the chests for New and Old-Shekels. We offered $450.
a month ($5,400 for the year), and if it is accepted, we will be
required to pay for the year up front. Municipal taxes will be
another $1,200 - $1,800 annually. We will need to affix
protective bars on the windows, install security cameras,
utilities and signs. We are looking at roughly $15,000 to open
the doors.
As the producers and distributers of the Half-Shekels, we can
not be in charge of the Lishka. Other Levites will be required to
staff it. That will require salaries, which could be paid
through funds of Ma'aser (Tithe) which are given to the Levites
so they can work as Levites. This is a global responsibilty.
This is not the responsibilty of Beged Ivri solo. Of course we
are taking responsibilty to make sure that everything that needs
to be done, gets done correctly.
The amount of money we are talking about is not a lot of money.
Its not even a fraction of a percent of the amount that people
give to religious causes. The Tithe is a Biblical obligation and
takes precedence over donations to houses of worship,
Federations, UJA's, yeshivoth and any other religious
institution. You won't be honored at a dinner, you won't
receive a plaque or a trophy, and you won't be featured in a
bulletin or gossip column. You are just giving back to G-d what
is required from all the bounty which Heaven entrusts you with.
We recommend that each of you review the book of Haggai the
prophet. He spoke for this generation. While you sit in your
well appointed houses, leaving it for others to take full
responsibilty, G-d's House lies waste.
Today there is no Titus, Vespasian or Hadrian to tell us no!
Apathy and feigned belief have taken their place. There is no
external foe preventing us from accomplishing the task, only an
internal foe. One that each and every person must slay for
themselves.
Winter Tour
We had an excellent 58 day tour that took us from San Diego,
California all the way up the coast to Seattle, Washington,
through Texas, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, New York and
Massachusetts. We gave over 70 lectures and classes.
Alabama!
We did a good part of Alabama.
In Anniston we met with Temple Beth El's President Mr. Fred Kemp,
Rabbi Fred Raskin, Levite in Charge Michelle Kemp, the catalyst
who brought us Alabama Mr. Woody Murray, and many distinguished
congregants and community leaders.
In Birmingham we met with Temple Beth El's treasurer Mr. Fisher;
Temple Emanuel's director Ms. Loraine Reznik; Knesseth Israel
Congregation's Rabbi Avraham Shmidman and his assistant Linda;
Chabad House's Rabbi Yoseph Posner; and N.E. Miles Jewish Day
School's assistant principal Ms. Cathy Goldman.
In Dothan we met Temple Emanu-El's Rabbi Lawrence Mahrer. This
was our favorite meeting. In fact as soon as I left the building
and got back into my car, I wrote down word for word what had
transpired because I didn't want to lose a word of it.
"On Wednesday January 13th I met with Rabbi (sic) Lawrence
Mahrer of Congregation Temple Emanu-El, 188 North Park Avenue,
P.O.Box 37, Dothan, Alabama 36303-4013. I arrived unannounced at
about 10:30 am. The secretary let me in and led me to the
Rabbi's office.
I approached Rabbi Mahrer, hand outstretched, and shaking his
hand I introduced myself as 'Reuven, who had been sending out
the Half-Shekel information packets from Jerusalem.' Rabbi
Mahrer said nastily 'what are you talking about?' I repeated
'the Half-Shekel project.' 'Don't talk to me! I don't want to
listen to what you have to say' he snappped. Shocked by this
man's behavior, I said 'I came all the way from Jerusalem to
meet with you' and he cut me off with 'that's not my problem, I
didn't invite you, please leave!' By this time I was shaken. I
said 'Can't you give me five minutes so I can show you photos of
what we're doing , Biblical weddings and Biblical garments, in
Jerusalem?' 'No! I am totally uninterested in what you have to
say. Please leave. Maybe the rabbis up north [Birmingham?] are
interested, but I am entitled to my opinion. Don't talk to me.'
Walking me forcibly out of the building he says 'I think this
whole thing is a scam. Nothing but a scam!' and he closed the
outer door in my face. Unbelievable."
Now, it had to be obvious that for me to be standing in Dothan
at 10:30 am, with the closest port of entry to the US being New
York, that I had travelled a great distance to meet with this
man. No offer of a glass of water, or a restroom, or five minutes
of indulgence for a fellow Jew all the way from Jerusalem.
The following evening in my hotel room I read on the front page
of The Southern Shofar (http://www.bham.net/shofar), December
1998, quoting Rabbi Mahrer, "'In these small towns, you have to
create occaisions for Jewish experiences.' In 1996, he organized
a burial of "klei kodesh", holy items that Jewish practice
forbids being thrown away."
Perhaps herein lies this man's problem with the restoration of
the Half-Shekel. While we're busy digging "klei kodesh" out of
their long grave in Exile, for this man, burying "klei kodesh"
is the experience he wants for his congregants.
The following is a letter sent out on September 4, 1998 on Temple
Emanu-El stationary to Mr. Woody Murray, our point-man in Alabama:
Dear Woody,
Thanks very much for sending me the material about the
half-shekel. Subsequently, I have received two mailings from
Israel.
I appreciate what you are attempting to do, but I must tell you
that I am simply uninterested. Therefore, in order to preserve
resources, I am returning the half-shekel to you unopened.
Likewise, I would appreciate it if you would request that my
name be removed from the Israel mailing list. There is no reason
for individuals or an organization to spend limited resources to
send material to someone who is not interested in the project.
I do appreciate you being in touch with me, and I wish you and
your Jewish community the very best for the New Year.
Cordially,
Lawrence N. Mahrer
Rabbi
Rabbi Mahrer, we relish the day we can take you off our mailing
list. The day that Temple Emanu-El installs their new rabbi,
someone who will be interested in including their congregation
in an effort of Am Yisrael, rather than excluding it.
If anyone knows any member of this congregation, please bring
this posting to their attention, and while you're at it, drop
Rabbi Mahrer a line and share your feelings on the subject.
In Mobile we met with Congregation Ahavat Chesed's Rabbi Steve Silberman
who invited me to teach both the children's class and adult
class, and who immediately signed his congregation up for the
project; and Spring Hill Avenue Temple's secretary Amy.
In Montgomery we met with Congregation Agudath Israel's
president Mr. Kenneth Shinbaum; Temple Beth Or's secretary Ms.
Pamela Lavender; and at Congregation Etz Ahayem no one was home
the day/hour we arrived.
We look foward to meeting with the rest of the congregations on
our next swing through Alabama. We came in with one congregation
signed on and left with two. That's a 100% increase, and togther
they represent 10% of Alabama's Jewish institutions. We look
foward to signing on the remaining congregations as soon as
possible. As soon as we complete Alabama, we move on to the next
state.
One interesting observation from this tour. In almost every
city, we found that many who we spoke with would respond with
great enthusiasm and then suggest which "other" would likely
go for it. Just as Rabbi Mahrer suggested that perhaps it was
appropriate for the Rabbis 'up north', if I was speaking with a
'reform' person, they would say "what a great idea", I bet the
'orthodox' will really get into it." The orthodox thought the
reform would get into it, the Biala Rebbe thought that Satmar
would be into it, etc. Everyone saw the merit in the project and
then suggested someone else who would be into it. At one
'reform' synagogue I was asked if I was Messianic. I was baffled
by the question until I understood why that person asked me such
a thing. Jews don't really believe in any of this stuff that we
pretend to believe in, and if this guy really believes this
stuff he obviously can't be Jewish.
Good Purim! Great Purim!
As we have learned, the Half-Shekel contributions fall into two
categories; Trumat HaLishkah (The Seperation of the Office) and
Shearith HaLishkah (The Remainder of the Office), the first
going to fund the Temple Service, and the second going to the
city of Jerusalem to prepare for the Pilgrimage Festivals and
for the upkeep of the walls of Jerusalem.