This week, I was inspired by a discussion in a Slack channel I’m part of, filled with tech enthusiasts. We were talking about FinOps (financial operations) and the ways companies decide on buying additional cloud space for their apps and databases.
They factor in how many users they currently have and and projected needs based on user growth, if new features or updates will require additional storage, and other such considerations.
Similarly, when a company needs to purchase a large physical asset, like an electric generator, they consider the initial cost, depreciation, and salvage value to make an informed decision.
But what about in spiritual matters? Is there a metric with which we measure a person’s worth based on his or her spiritual fitness?
In this week's parsha, the Torah discusses Arachin, a process where a person can donate his or her "value" to the Temple. The amount is determined on the person’s gender and age.
They factor in how many users they currently have and and projected needs based on user growth, if new features or updates will require additional storage, and other such considerations.
Similarly, when a company needs to purchase a large physical asset, like an electric generator, they consider the initial cost, depreciation, and salvage value to make an informed decision.
But what about in spiritual matters? Is there a metric with which we measure a person’s worth based on his or her spiritual fitness?
In this week's parsha, the Torah discusses Arachin, a process where a person can donate his or her "value" to the Temple. The amount is determined on the person’s gender and age.
(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (ב) דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אִ֕ישׁ כִּ֥י יַפְלִ֖א נֶ֑דֶר בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ נְפָשֹׁ֖ת לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃ (ג) וְהָיָ֤ה עֶרְכְּךָ֙ הַזָּכָ֔ר מִבֶּן֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְעַ֖ד בֶּן־שִׁשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וְהָיָ֣ה עֶרְכְּךָ֗ חֲמִשִּׁ֛ים שֶׁ֥קֶל כֶּ֖סֶף בְּשֶׁ֥קֶל הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ (ד) וְאִם־נְקֵבָ֖ה הִ֑וא וְהָיָ֥ה עֶרְכְּךָ֖ שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים שָֽׁקֶל׃ (ה) וְאִ֨ם מִבֶּן־חָמֵ֜שׁ שָׁנִ֗ים וְעַד֙ בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְהָיָ֧ה עֶרְכְּךָ֛ הַזָּכָ֖ר עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שְׁקָלִ֑ים וְלַנְּקֵבָ֖ה עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת שְׁקָלִֽים׃ (ו) וְאִ֣ם מִבֶּן־חֹ֗דֶשׁ וְעַד֙ בֶּן־חָמֵ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וְהָיָ֤ה עֶרְכְּךָ֙ הַזָּכָ֔ר חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה שְׁקָלִ֖ים כָּ֑סֶף וְלַנְּקֵבָ֣ה עֶרְכְּךָ֔ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים כָּֽסֶף׃ (ז) וְ֠אִ֠ם מִבֶּן־שִׁשִּׁ֨ים שָׁנָ֤ה וָמַ֙עְלָה֙ אִם־זָכָ֔ר וְהָיָ֣ה עֶרְכְּךָ֔ חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר שָׁ֑קֶל וְלַנְּקֵבָ֖ה עֲשָׂרָ֥ה שְׁקָלִֽים׃ (ח) וְאִם־מָ֥ךְ הוּא֙ מֵֽעֶרְכֶּ֔ךָ וְהֶֽעֱמִידוֹ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהֶעֱרִ֥יךְ אֹת֖וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן עַל־פִּ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר תַּשִּׂיג֙ יַ֣ד הַנֹּדֵ֔ר יַעֲרִיכֶ֖נּוּ הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ {ס}
(1) יהוה spoke to Moses, saying: (2) Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: When any party explicitly*explicitly Cf. note at Lev. 22.21. vows to יהוה the equivalent for a human being, (3) the following scale shall apply: If it is a male from twenty to sixty years of age, the equivalent is fifty shekels of silver by the sanctuary weight; (4) if it is a female, the equivalent is thirty shekels. (5) If the age is from five years to twenty years, the equivalent is twenty shekels for a male and ten shekels for a female. (6) If the age is from one month to five years, the equivalent for a male is five shekels of silver, and the equivalent for a female is three shekels of silver. (7) If the age is sixty years or over, the equivalent is fifteen shekels in the case of a male and ten shekels for a female. (8) But if one cannot afford the equivalent, that person shall be presented before the priest, and the priest shall make an assessment; the priest shall make the assessment according to what the vower can afford.
We see that in regards to donating one’s worth to the Temple, every single person's valuation begins and ends the same and all follow the same straight-line appreciation.
But shouldn't other factors be considered, like how much Torah the individual has learned, how many community organizations they support, or many times they were nominated as Parents of the Year at the Yeshiva dinner, just like we evaluate other things in life by various criteria that can increase or decrease their value?
However, the Torah’s system teaches us a profound lesson. In matters of sanctity and real worth, every Jew is inherently worthy.
Each milestone stage of our lives, in our respective genders and ages, have a meaningful contribution to give to our families, communities, and to ourselves.
Today, questions like "Am I worth it?" are, unfortunately, asked too earnestly.
Arachin comes to dispel those negative thoughts and give us a true assessment of our value.
May this lesson infuse us with strength!
Chazak!
But shouldn't other factors be considered, like how much Torah the individual has learned, how many community organizations they support, or many times they were nominated as Parents of the Year at the Yeshiva dinner, just like we evaluate other things in life by various criteria that can increase or decrease their value?
However, the Torah’s system teaches us a profound lesson. In matters of sanctity and real worth, every Jew is inherently worthy.
Each milestone stage of our lives, in our respective genders and ages, have a meaningful contribution to give to our families, communities, and to ourselves.
Today, questions like "Am I worth it?" are, unfortunately, asked too earnestly.
Arachin comes to dispel those negative thoughts and give us a true assessment of our value.
May this lesson infuse us with strength!
Chazak!