19.02.2011                     15.Adar l, 5771

Judentum:

God of the earth: Coin of Fire

The Jewish people were born out of the rejection of material worship, and charged with the mission of transforming the way societies view wealth.

Parshat Ki Tisa opens with God commanding Moses (Moshe) to take a census of the Children of Israel by collecting a half-shekel coin from each adult. The Midrash says that God showed Moshe a half-shekel coin made of fire and said, “Like this one shall they give.” 
The Noam Elimelech explains that money is like fire; it can be used to create, protect and nourish, or it can be used to harm and destroy. The silver half-shekel stands at the opening of our parsha as a warning of the potential dangers of wealth….