Parshat Shekalim - Melachim II 12:1-17
The First Tzedakah Box
How do you run a successful fundraising campaign? During the time of evil Queen Atalia, the Beit Hamikdash fell into a state of disrepair. Her righteous son Yoash turned to the people to donate money after the funds of the Kohanim were not enough to sustain the repairs. His campaign was highly successful and the funds were raised to repair and reconstruct the Beit Hamikdash. What was it that made his campaign successful?
Divrei Hayamim II highlights the people’s generosity in the time of Yoash and describes the monies as given with great joy and abundance. This description was also used to describe King David’s original efforts many years earlier to raise money for the building of the Beit Hamikdash. The posuk in Divrei Hayamim I states, וַיִּשְׂמְח֤וּ הָעָם֙ עַל־הִֽתְנַדְּבָ֔ם כִּ֚י בְּלֵ֣ב שָׁלֵ֔ם הִֽתְנַדְּב֖וּ לַֽהֹ, the people rejoiced in their donations, for they donated wholeheartedly to Hashem.
King David expresses his awe of the people’s contributions and says to Hashem, שׇׁמְרָה־זֹּ֣את לְעוֹלָ֔ם, preserve this (spirit of generosity) forever. We recite these words from the end of Divrei Hayamim in the Tefillah of ובא לציון . Rav Pam z”tl explains that King David recognized that there may be a time when people will be asked to contribute and may not respond as generously as during the Beit Hamikdash fundraising campaign. Perhaps the marketing won’t be as slick, the cause not as compelling, the need not as well expressed. King David asks Hashem to take some of the “preserved” simcha of giving from his Beit Hamikdash building campaign and to bestow it on the people of future generations so that they too may know the joy of giving and supporting others with an open heart.
This Haftorah of Parshat Shekalim introduces the Purim and Pesach season when we are called upon to give generously to support those in our community who are in need. May we indeed merit to give with joy and warmth, recognizing that it is a privilege to give Tzedakah and help our fellow man.