Above suspicion TY Shekalim 9

 We began the third chapter of our massekhet on daf TY Shekalim 7b. Today we have the privilege of concluding this chapter with today’s daf TY Shekalim 9. Withdrawing the shekalim three times a year for the communal sacrifices was a sacred duty. Those involved had to be above suspicion.

The Mishnah on daf TY Shekalim 8b says: The one who withdraws shekalim may not enter the treasury chamber with a hemmed garment (lest people think he has hidden some coins in the hem), nor with a shoe or a sandal (lest people think he has hidden some coins there), nor with tefillin (lest people think that he removed from the boxes the scrolls in order to hide money there), nor with an amulet (an amulet was a pouch worn for protection around the neck that contained an inscribed piece of parchment. People might think he is hiding money there.)-Lest he become poor and people will say, “Because of the sin of stealing from the treasury chamber he has become poor!”; or lest he become rich and people will say, “He has become rich by pilfering from the funds withdrawn from the treasury chamber!” These precautions were necessary because a person must satisfy the scrutiny of human beings just as he must satisfy the scrutiny of the Omnipresent. For it is stated: And you shall be innocent (in the eyes) of God and of Israel (Numbers 32:22); and it is furthermore stated: And find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man. (Proverbs 3:4) (Art Scroll translation and commentary)

Today’s daf TY Shekalim 9 cites other precautions to make sure that those involved were above suspicion.

Rabbi Yishmael taught in a Baraita: A long-haired person may not perform the withdrawal because this could raise the suspicion that he has hidden some coins amid his hair. (Rambam, Hil Shekalim 2:10), however, appears to have had the word קָבוּץ instead of the word קָּווּץ found in our text, meaning an impoverished or greedy person who could possibly be suspected of having stolen money from the treasury. (Art Scroll translation and commentary)

 It was taught further in a Baraita: After the one conducting the withdrawal exited the treasury chamber, the Temple treasurers would separate the strands of his woolen garments to show that no money have been concealed there. (Art Scroll translation) Complete transparency was required.

It was taught further in a Baraita: They would converse with him from the time he would enter the treasury chamber until he would leave, so that it would be impossible for him to smuggle out coins in his mouth.

If only our elected officials, business people, clergy, and everybody else who handles funds were as transparent and scrupulous as those who made withdrawals from the treasury chamber, there will be no more misappropriation scandals, pyramid schemes, and outright theft that plague our world.