OU TORAH Parshas Ki Sisa By Rav Moshe Twersky, HY"D
The Ramban explains that the expression “machatzis ha’shekel b’shekel ha’kodesh” is to be understood in the context of the Biblical shekel’s status of being employed to establish requisite values for arachin, pidyon ha’ben, the Mishkan, and every monetary value prescribed in the Torah. That, explains the Ramban, is why it is called shekel ha’kodesh, because it is the barometer and used for all these things which are kodesh. That too, adds the Ramban, is the reason why Chazal refer to the language of the Torah as lashon ha’kodesh – because all the words of Torah, Neviim, and all words of kedusha are expressed in that language. It is the language in which Ha’Kadosh Baruch Hu communicates with His neviim and His people, it is the language in which the names of Hashem are expressed, it is the language with which Hashem created the universe and designated identifying names for all its component parts, and all of the malachim and the holy people such as Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Shlomo, and all the rest. The Rambam in Moreh Ha’nevuchim on the other hand, continues the Ramban, says that it is called lashon ha’kodesh because it does not contain any words to describe the reproductive organs, reproductive fluids, or excretory matter – other than in the form of sobriquets.
The Ramban explains that the expression “machatzis ha’shekel b’shekel ha’kodesh” is to be understood in the context of the Biblical shekel’s status of being employed to establish requisite values for arachin, pidyon ha’ben, the Mishkan, and every monetary value prescribed in the Torah. That, explains the Ramban, is why it is called shekel ha’kodesh, because it is the barometer and used for all these things which are kodesh. That too, adds the Ramban, is the reason why Chazal refer to the language of the Torah as lashon ha’kodesh – because all the words of Torah, Neviim, and all words of kedusha are expressed in that language. It is the language in which Ha’Kadosh Baruch Hu communicates with His neviim and His people, it is the language in which the names of Hashem are expressed, it is the language with which Hashem created the universe and designated identifying names for all its component parts, and all of the malachim and the holy people such as Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Shlomo, and all the rest. The Rambam in Moreh Ha’nevuchim on the other hand, continues the Ramban, says that it is called lashon ha’kodesh because it does not contain any words to describe the reproductive organs, reproductive fluids, or excretory matter – other than in the form of sobriquets.
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