Shekalim, tzedakah, and freedom

באחד באדר משמיעין על השקלים ועל הכלאים דכתיב מתן אדם ירחיב לו ולפני גדולים ינחנו כי ע"י הקבלה שהאדם מקבל ע"ע לקיים המצוה בזה עצמו נעשה קצת בן חורין בכל עת צרה כאשר חכמים הגידו נודרין בעת צרה.

"On the first of Adar they announce concerning the shekalim and the kilayim" (Shekalim 1:1), as it is written: "A person's gift makes room for him, and before great ones it leads him" (Mishlei 18:16) — for through the acceptance that a person takes upon himself to fulfill the mitzvah, by that very act he becomes somewhat a free man (ben chorin) in every time of distress, as Chazal taught: one makes vows in a time of distress.

The first-of-Adar announcement about the shekalim ties to "a person's gift makes room for him": by committing himself to give and fulfill the mitzvah, a person already gains a measure of freedom — which is why people vow tzedakah specifically in times of trouble, to widen their straits.

ולכן אף שהתרומה בניסן רק הקבלה הוא באדר.

Therefore, although the actual terumah (giving of the shekalim) was in Nissan, the acceptance is already in Adar.

Even though the shekalim were brought in Nissan, the announcement in Adar engenders the kabbalah — the inner commitment — a month earlier.

ופי' משמיעין הוא ג"כ אצל כל יחיד שבשמוע פרשת שקלים מקבל עליו ונודר בפיו ליתן כמ"ש חז"ל בפיך זו צדקה וזהו ג"כ הרחב פיך שע"י הקבלה מתרחב האדם ממקום המיצר שזהו פי' כלאים כמו בית הכלא שע"י השקלים נעשין בני חורין כנ"ל.

And the meaning of "they announce" (mashmi'in) also applies to each individual — that upon hearing Parshas Shekalim he accepts it upon himself and vows with his mouth to give, as Chazal said: "with your mouth — this refers to tzedakah" (Rosh Hashanah 6a); and this too is "open wide your mouth (and I will fill it)" (Tehillim 81:11) — that through the acceptance a person is widened out from the place of constriction (meitzar), which is the meaning of "kilayim," like a prison (beis hakele), for through the shekalim they become free men, as above.

"Announcing" works on each individual too: hearing Shekalim, he verbally commits to give (tzedakah being "in your mouth"), and this verbal kabbalah widens him out of his narrow straits — playing on "kilayim" as related to "kele" (prison), so the shekalim turn a person into a ben chorin.

ולפני גדולים ינחנו הוא מ"ש חז"ל שהבטיח הקב"ה לזקוף ראשן של ישראל בעת קריאת פ' שקלים.

"And before great ones it leads him" is what Chazal said — that Hashem promised to raise up the head of Yisrael at the time of the reading of Parshas Shekalim.

The continuation of the pasuk, "before great ones it leads him," alludes to Hashem's promise to lift up Klal Yisrael's head through the mitzvah of the shekalim.

וגם לפי פשוטו שכשהקב"ה מרומם אותנו יש ע"ז קטרוג.

And also according to its plain meaning, that when Hashem elevates us, there is an accusation (kitrug) against this.

On a simple level, whenever Hashem wishes to raise Bnei Yisrael, the heavenly prosecution objects.

רק ע"י הצדקה מתבטל הקטרוג שע"י שאדם מרחם על העני ונותן לו ממונו עי"ז מדה"ד מסכים לרומם אותו יותר משורת הדין וכמ"ש צדקה תרומם גוי.

Only through tzedakah is the accusation nullified — for through a person having mercy on the poor and giving him his money, by this the attribute of strict justice (middas hadin) consents to elevate him beyond the letter of the law, as it is written: "tzedakah lifts up a nation" (Mishlei 14:34).

Because a person shows mercy to the poor beyond what is required, middas hadin in turn agrees to treat him beyond the strict din — so tzedakah silences the prosecution and lifts up the nation.

וז"ש כי תשא כו' ונתנו כו'.

And this is the meaning of "When you lift up (the head of Bnei Yisrael)… and they shall give…" (Shemos 30:12).

The Torah links the "lifting up of the head" directly to the giving of the shekalim — the elevation comes precisely through the tzedakah.

ולאשר בכל ניסן מתרוממת האומה הישראלית מקדימין השקלים.

And because in Nissan the nation of Yisrael is elevated, the shekalim are brought beforehand.

Since the geulah and elevation of Bnei Yisrael belong to Nissan, the shekalim — which neutralize the accusation against being raised up — are arranged in advance.

ועוד יבואר מזה אי"ה:

And more will be explained on this, im yirtzeh Hashem.

The Sefas Emes notes that he will expand on this idea further, God willing.

Summary: The first-of-Adar announcement about the shekalim works on every individual: by hearing Parshas Shekalim and verbally committing to give tzedakah, a person is widened out of his constriction (the "prison" hinted in kilayim) and becomes a ben chorin. Moreover, whenever Hashem wishes to elevate Bnei Yisrael there is a heavenly accusation, but the mercy of tzedakah causes middas hadin itself to consent to raise us beyond the letter of the law ("tzedakah lifts up a nation"). Since the elevation of Klal Yisrael belongs to Nissan, the shekalim are arranged beforehand in Adar.