February 28 is Shabbat Shekalim, one of four special Shabbats in the lead up to Passover, named for a line from Exodus 30:11. As the Israelites are wandering the desert, a census is taken and a communal tax of a half shekel per person is raised in order to support communal prayer.
You might be thinking, “What does this census and tax have to do with me and with Shabbat?” While on the surface it may seem like a rather boring Torah portion, this census and tax is actually the beginning of the active formation of a true community rather than a collection of individuals who escaped Egypt together. This tax is the way the group begins to unite and operate as an organized body and work towards their future as a proper community.
In honor of Shabbat Shekalim, we’re inviting you to join the Jewish Promise, a communal promise and commitment to your future self, to agree to strengthen the Jewish people in your own way.
The Jewish Promise is very simple. First, you’ll log onto their site and remind yourself of your promise by writing a short note to your future self. Then, at your table tonight, share a bit with your guests about Shabbat Shekalim, the Jewish Promise, and what the Jewish community and its future mean to you. Together, take a few minutes to have your guests each write a note to their future selves. The Jewish Promise site will take care of sending you your letter in five years.