Ki Sisa

In this week' s parashah, we are told the requirement for everyone to contribute a half-shekel towards the census. Everyone was commanded to give the same amount -- "the wealthy man should not add, and the poor man shall not deduct from the half-shekel... to atone for your soul."

Purim highlights for us the power of a single person to change to course of history. Whether it be the Haman who could have succeeded in annihilating an entire nation, Achashveirosh, who encouraged the genocide, Mordechai who was steadfastly committed to what was right and who turned around the nation, or Esther, who risked her life to achieve the turnabout.

But there is more.

Following the Megillah reading on Purim, we say (based on Meseches Soferim 14:6, Yerushalmi Megillah 3:7), "Cursed is Haman...blessed is Mordechai...cursed is Zeresh...blessed is Esther...and Charvonah, too, is to remembered positively."

Haman, Mordechai, Zeresh, Esther -- they are the stars of the show. But what did Charvonah do?

When Achashveirosh was incensed at Haman and decided to kill him, Charvonah is the one who informed Achashveirosh of the gallows Haman had erected. In fact, according the the gemara (Megillah 16a), Charvonah had actually been in on the plot to hang Mordechai, so now he was trying to ingratiate himself with the King and Queen.

So for that 1-line bit-part Charvonah gets honorable mention alongside the big boys?

Machtzis Hashekel teaches us that the wealthy man and the poor man are -- in a sense -- equal. Every individual has something to contribute, everybody a role to play.

Some may have starring roles. Others are walk-ons. None are extras.

Even if we see that others have more talents and abilities and knowledge than us, we still have our equally important half-shekel to give. If we give it, we are up there with them, if we are discouraged and don't, we have failed.

Charvonah played his part. His small piece made the puzzle complete. He gets mention alongside the larger players.

May we be granted the wisdom and the ability to recognize and undertake our roles in this world, and change it for the better.

Gut Shabbos.