Spending money to raise one’s children b’derech haTorah is a holy undertaking
“This is what everyone who goes through the counting should give: half a shekel according to the holy shekel…” (Shemos 30:13)
W
hy does the pasuk call it a holy shekel?
The word holy connotates separate and unique. The Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 3:8) explains that the language of the Torah is called Lashon Hakodesh — holy language — because unlike other languages, the entire language consists only of words that are holy and pure.
Therefore, the Torah is teaching us that our money, our shekalim, also need to be kadosh — separate and unique for holy purposes only.
A person can give tzedakah and support chesed, and that’s meritorious. But if he also uses his money for poor reading material or for electronics that bring tumah into his house, then his money isn’t holy and neither is his home a Beis Hamikdash. (Rav Shimshon Pincus, Tiferes Shimshon)
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