the other side of the coin

When HaShem tells Mosheh about the מחצית השקל, the half shekel that was used to count Bnei Yisrael, the Gemara explains that HaShem actually showed Mosheh an image of a fiery shekel from below the Throne of Glory. (כסא הכבוד)

The Noam Elimelech explains this Gemara like so: The root of money is from the fire of the Holy Throne of HaShem, if one uses it for tzedakah and with great kindness and awareness, then it brings great pleasure before HaShem on His Throne. On the other hand, if one uses the money to one's own ends, then it burns like fire, eradicating the intellect of such a person.

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