1)

(a)When the Mishnah states that on the first of Adar, Beis-Din announce Shekalim, what it means is - that they send their Sh'luchim throughout the land to give the people one month's notice to bring their half-Shekel ...

(b)... to enable Beis-Din to purchase the Korb'nos Tzibur from the new T'rumah ...

(c)... which falls due on the first of Nisan.

(d)They learned this from the Pasuk in Pinchas "Zos Olas Chodesh be'Chodsho le'Chodshei ha'Shanah" - a Gezeirh-Shavah from which we learn that the obligation to renew one's Shekalim falls due in Nisan.

2)

(a)On the same day, Beis-Din also announce - 'al ha'Kil'ayim' (a reminder that people should remove Kil'ayim that has begun to grow in their fields).

(b)For each Sa'ah of the first species of crops that one has planted in one's field, one is obligated to remove - a quarter of a Kav (six Kabin equals one Sa'ah) of the second species.

(c)One is obligated to remove even one in a thousand however - once they have begun to grow ...

(d)... because Bitul is confined to Heter in Isur, but not Heter in Heter (such as here, where both species independently are permitted [See Tos. Yom-Tov]).

3)

(a)Despite what we just said, it will suffice to merely minimize the lesser species to less than a quarter of a Kav per Sa'ah before it has grown - because, since it has not yet become Asur, one in two becomes Bateil min ha'Torah ...

(b)... and the obigation to remove one of the species is only due to 'Mar'is ha'Ayin'.

(c)The Tana now inserts the Din of reading the Megilah on the fifteenth of Adar - with regard to cities that were surrounded by a wal in the time of Yehoshua bin Nun.

(d)The Tana mentions this Halachah (and those that follow) here in Shekalim (See Tos. Yom-Tov) - because it will later include the Din of bankers setting up in Yerushalayim (which is connected to the Mitzvah of bringing the half-Shekalim, as we shall see shortly).

4)

(a)Following the rain season, it now becomes necessary to repair the roads and the markets - and the Mikva'os.

(b)The latter entails - clearing out the mud and complementing the Shi'ur where necessary (even using Mayim She'uvim [drawn water], if the Mikvah already contains the majority of the required Shi'ur).

(c)Repairing the roads at this juncture was necessary either for the Olei Regalim, who were now beginning to make their way to Yerushalayim - or for people who have killed be'Shogeg and who need escape to the Arei Mikat ...

(d)... as the Pasuk writes in Shoftim - "Tachin l'cha ha'Derech (prepare the way)!"

5)

(a)The Mishnah continues 'They see to all of the public needs' (See Tos. Yom-Tov). The first three items on the long list of issues actually takes place in Beis-Din itself, namely - settling Dinei Mamonos, Dinei Nefashos and Dinei Makos.

(b)The three things that concern what needs to be redeemed are - Erchin, Charamiom and Hekdeishos.

(c)Beis-Din also see to it that cases of Sotah are resolved (Hashka'as Sotah) and that the Parah Adumah is burned (if necessary). They also attend to ...

1. ... the Retzi'ah (the piercing of the ear of an Eved Ivri (who wishes to remain with his master until the Yovel), and ...

2. ... the purification ceremony of a Metzora.

(d)And they also - send their Shluchim to open wells, to ensure that the Olei Regalim have sufficient water to drink when they arrive in Yerushalayim for Pesach.

6)

(a)The Tana adds to his list that they mark the graves - which entails pouring melted lime around the grave, and go out to check the Kil'ayim.

(b)The purpose of marking the graves is - to prevent the Kohanim inadvertently touching the grave and rendering themselves Tamei.

(c)They do it specifically now - because the recent rains probably washed off last year's markings.

(d)Despite having reminded everyone to remove their Kil'ayim on the first of Adar, they nevertheless go out for Kil'ayim on the fifteenth - to enforce the Halachah regarding those people who have not yet taken the warning to heart.

7)

(a)Rebbi Yehudah explains that initially, Beis-Din's Sh'luchim would uproot any Kil'ayim that they found and throw it in front of the owners - in order to embarrass them.

(b)They changed their tactics - when they saw that, instead of being ashamed, the owners reacted with joy ...

(c)... because not only were they uprooting their Kil'ayim for them, but they were also feeding their animals at the same time.

8)

(a)The Sh'luchim then began uprooting te Kil'ayim and throwing it into the street.

(b)The owners were still happy however - because they were spared the trouble of uprooting it themselves.

(c)So to force the people to comply - they simply declared their fislds Hefker ...

(d)... based on the principle 'Hefker Beis-Din Hefker'.

9)

(a)The Mishnah concludes the list of things that happened on the fifteenth of Adar with the bankers who set up their tables 'in the Medinah' - (i.e. in Yerushalayim, and ...

(b)... according to the Rambam - in the cities throughout Eretz Yisrael) ...

(c)... to exchange the foreign coins that people bring from their respective countries (See also Tiferes Yisrael).

(d)On the twenty-fifth of Adar - Beis-Din begin taking a securities from whoever has not yet paid his half-Shekel (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

10)

(a)Beis-Din will take a security from Levi'im, Yisre'eiim, Geirim and Avadim Meshuchrarim (who have been set free). The Tana needs to mention Levi'im - to preclude the opinion which holds that Levi'im are Patur from the Mitzvah of Machtzis ha'Shekel ...

(b)... because the Torah writes in Ki Sissa "Kol ha'Over al ha'Pekudim mi'Ben Esrim Shanah va'Ma'lah".

(c)The three groups of people (besides the Kohanim) who are exempt from the Mitzvah are - women, Avadim and Ketanim.

(d)The Chachamim exempted ...

1. ... women - since the Torah writes there "ve'Nasnu Ish Kofer Nafsho"

2. ... Avadim - because whatever women are Patur from, do too are Avadim.

(e)The definition of 'Ketanim' in this context is - whoever is under twenty.

11)

(a)The Tana rules that once the Katan's father gives a half-Shekel on his behalf - he is obligated to continue doing so every year.

(b)In the event that he (the father) dies - the 'Katan' must continue giving on his own behalf (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The Beis-Din do not take a security from the Kohanim who fail to pay their half-Shekel promptly - because of Darkei Shalom (in deference to the servants of Hash-m who perform the Avodah in the Beis-ha'Mikdash [See Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(d)They (the Kohanim) nevertheless merit a portion in the Korb'nos Tzibur - by means of a 'T'nai Beis-Din' that they have a part in the Terumas ha'Lishkah, as we will learn later with regard to those who work for Hekdesh).

12)

(a)Ben Buchri says that a Kohen who donates a half-Shekel - has not sinned.

(b)We might have thought that he has - because it will then transpire that a Korban Tzibur is being brought with money donated by a Yachid.

(c)He nevertheless hasn't - because when he hands the money over to the Tzibur, he hands it over with a full heart ...

(d)... and we are not worried that maybe he didn't.

13)

(a)Rebbi Yochanan ben Zakai says that to the contrary - any Kohen who does not pay his half-Shekel has sinned, because ...

(b)... even though the Kohanim were not counted together with the rest of K'lal Yisrael in the desert, he explain the Pasuk in Ki Sissa ...

1. ... "Ko ha'Over ... " to mean - all those who crossed over the Yam-Suf (including the Kohanim) ...

2. ... al ha'Pekudim" - irrespective of whether they were counted together with the rest of K'lal Yisrael or whther they were counted independently (like the tribe of Levi was).

(c)The tribe of Levi was ...

1. ... not counted - by the T'rumas Adanim (of the sockets)

2. ... counted - by the T'rumah of the Korb'nos Tzibur.

(d)The Kohanim declined to give a half-Shekel - because they mistakenly believed that they were Patur from the Mitzvah of Machtzis ha'Shekel (since they learned like ben Buchri).

14)

(a)The Kohen's mistake (according to Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai) was based on a Pasuk in Tzav which rules - that the Minchah of a Kohen must be burned and not eaten ...

(b)... creating a problem with the fact that the Kohanim eat the Korban Omer, the Sh'tei ha'Lechem and the Lechem ha'Panim - which is purchased from the T'rumas ha'Lishkah if they would donate towwards it each year.

(c)Their mistake lay in the fact - that it is only their personal Korbanos, which they purchased with their private money exclusively, that they were not permitted to eat, not Korb'nos Tzibur, which were purchased with public funds.

(d)The Halachah is - that the Kohanim are obligated to participate in the Mitzvah of Machtzis ha'Shekel (like Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai), only Beis-Din does not take a security from them, as we learned in the previous Mishnah.

15)

(a)Beis-Din accept a half-Shekel that is donated by women, Avadim and Ketanim (even though one would not otherwise accept a security from them) - provided they make a point of handing it over to the community [and not as a private donation]).

(b)The Mishnah adds - that one does not accept a half-Shekel that is donated by a Nochri and a Kuti under any circumstances.

(c)And the same will apply if the latter send ...

1. ... 'Kinei Zavin and Zavos or Kinei Yoldos', but not if they send ...

2. ... 'Nedarim or Nedavos (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)'Kinei Zavin and Zavos' can only apply to Kutim - because the concept of Zivus does not apply to Nochrim.

(e)These latter rulings are based on the principle - that 'Whatever can be donated as a Neder or a Nedavah one may accept from Nochrim and Kutim, but not what can't (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

16)

(a)'Zeh ha'Kelal' always comes to include something. The basic Din that we learn from the Pasuk in Emor "Ish Ish mi'Beis Yisrael asher Yakriv Korbano ... " is - that a Nochri may bring Nedarim and Nedavos to the Beis-ha'Mikdash just like a Yisrael.

(b)Based on another Pasuk there, this refers specifically to a Korban Olah. The continuation of the Pasuk "le'Chol Nidreihem" comes to include a Korban Shelamim, whereas "u'le'Chol Nidvosam" comes to include - birds, flour-offerings, wine, frankincense and wood.

(c)To corroborate the K'lal, the Mishnah cites the Pasuk in Ezra "Lo Lachem ve'Lanu es Beis Elokeinu" - which is what Ezra said to the Kutim, when they offered to help build the second Beis-ha'Mikdash ...

(d)... a proof that Nochrim and Kutim are not permitted to participate in something that is an obligation (Seealso Pirush ha'Mishnayos le'ha'Rambam and Meleches Sh'lomoh).

17)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses who is Chayav to give a Kalbon - 'Kal Bon' (meaning a little extra (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(b)Besides Levi'im and Yisre'eilim - Geirim and Avadim Meshuchrarim (who have been set free) are obligated to give a Kalbon.

(c)Besides Kohanim (See Tos. Yom-Tov) and Nashim - Avadim and Ketanim are Patur from Kalbon.

(d)With reference to someone who gives a complete Shekel, half on behalf of himself and half on behalf the aforementioned, the Tana rules that there where he gives it on behalf of one of the latter (by way of a loan) - he is Patur from Kalbon.

18)

(a)If Reuven gives a complete Shekel half on behalf of himself and half on behalf of Shimon, the Tana Kama rules - that he only needs to add one Kalbon ...

(b)... based on the Pasuk in Ki Sissa "Zeh Yitnu" from which he learns - that min ha'Torah, one needs to give exactly half a Shekel, and no more.

(c)Rebbi Meir obligate him to give two Kalbonos - because according to him, each person who gives half a Shekel is Chayav to add a Kalbon (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(d)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

19)

(a)The Tana rules that someone who gives a Sela and who receives a Shekel change - must add two Kalbonos (even according to the Tana Kama) ...

(b)'Sela' in this instance, means a Shekel, whereas Shekel means half a Shekel (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)Even the Tana Kama agrees here that one is obligated to add two Kalbonos here (as we explained) - one to cover the half-Shekel that he receives as change, and one because he did not give the half-Shekel as prescribed by the Torah (See also Tiferes Yisrael).

20)

(a)If someone gives a half Shekel on behalf of a poor man, a neighbor or any other townsman, he is Patur from adding a Kalbon - provided he gives it in the form of a gift, but Chayav if he gives it as a loan.

(b)The Mishnah discusses 'ha'Achin ha'Shutfin', which means - brothers who (after dividing their inheritance), go into partnership (See also Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The Din regarding ...

1. ... Kalbon is - that they are Chayav.

2. ... Ma'aser Beheimah is - that they are Patur.

(d)Their Chiyuv to add Kalbon is based on the general Din obligating two people who give a Shekel jointly to do so. The Gemara in Bechoros learns from the word "lach" (in the Pasuk in Koach) "u'Vesaram Yih'yeh lach") - that Shutfim are Patur from Ma'aser Beheimah.

(e)Although this Pasuk is written in connection with B'chor - the Gemara there Darshens it in connection with Ma'aser Beheimah.

21)

(a)The Gemara learns that if the brothers did not divide their fathers property (T'fusas ha'Bayis) they are Chayav to give Ma'aser Beheimah - from the word (in the previous Pasuk) "Yih'yeh".

(b)They are then Patur from Kalbon however - bccause their father's property retains its Chazakah, and he would have been Patur had he given the half-Shekel on behalf of his sons (or his neighbors, as we learned earlier).

22)

(a)According to Rebbi Meir, a Kalbon comprises a Ma'ah Kesef - one ...

1. ... forty-eighth of a Sela ...

2. ... twenty-fourth of a Shekel.

(b)This is equivalent (in weight) to - sixteen barley grains.

(c)The Chachamim maintain - that it is half a silver Ma'ah (eight barley-grains).

(d)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.