Ithapcha Chashocha Lenehora

Transforming Darkness Into Light
Introduction To Tractate Shekalim (see Shemot 30:11-16):

When counting b'nei Yisrael, Hashem tells Moshe not to do a simple head count. Rather, Moshe is instructed to:

- take the sum
- count
- as a ransom
- to avoid a plague on account of numbering
- give a half shekel which is 10 gerahs
- to Hashem
- for kaparah
- appointing service
- at the place of meeting

Let's look at these bytes of information. It sounds amazingly like the anatomy of an EPIPHANY to me, where the epiphany transforms into light the darkness (אתהפכא חשוכא לנהורא) which surrounds the command not to "count heads". We will see that on the pivot of an epiphany, it isn't what's in the head that counts, it's the action that comes out of the gut that makes it happen truly ...

The word shekel (שקל) is a code for the "complete" action of the soul during it's appointment with that Truly Divine. Apprehension, comprehension and the experience of shefa (and Divine communication) begin in the head (ש, see Sefer Yetzirah 3:6). It moves from the head into the gut (ק), from which shefa flows out (should one agree to "let" it). In consequence to letting shefa flow out, it doesn't get blocked, backed up into and remain in the head (ר, reish) - resulting in distortion and formation of the word שקר, falsehood. Distortion and falsehood result when shefa is not "let go".

In contradistinction to that result, when shefa is let go, one turns inside out (ק goes to ל, rather than ק to ר) into Divine Truth instead of distorting into falsehood. The lamed (ל) action of the soul results in formation of the word שקל, shekel, as opposed to שקר, sheker.

A half shekel one gives for the Temple refers to the shefa "half" that seems whole¹ but really isn't ... there's a "rest of the story" to the dance with Divine Truth.

¹ "The value of a “half-shekel” might vary from time to time, because the half-shekel which they are referring to is a Torah half-shekel. In the Mishnah they assume that a shekel is worth a “sela”, which is four dinars (a Roman currency). Therefore, half a shekel is assumed to be two dinars. This two dinars is usually called a “shekel”. Hence, throughout the tractate when the mishnah says “shekel” it is referring to the half-shekel (I realize that this is confusing)." Mishnah Yomit

Take the sum ... all of it as you think you know it

count ... even recognizing it's divine magnitude

as a ransom ... and let it all go

to avoid a plague on account of numbering ... there is no way back once you've started, a decision of essential bitachon cannot be avoided, and

which is 10 gerahs, you must give 10 gerahs ... to avoid settling for less than all there truly is, even beyond the known into the dark essence of the unknown (ithapcha chashocha)

to Hashem ... to turn inside out (lenehora)

for kaparah ... and transcend the revealed world (itkafia)

it's an appointed service ... at "the appointment"

at the "place of meeting" ... the Truly Divine

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