(2009/5769)
Parashat Ki Tisa contains one of the three censuses of Bnei Yisrael. When the Torah refers to this census, it states (Shemot 30:12), “Ki Tisa Et Rosh”, which literally means “when you raise a head.” Why would the Torah use such a strange expression? In fact, this is not the only time that Torah uses this strange language. The Gemara (Bava Batra 10b) quotes a Midrash in which Moshe asks Hashem, “With what will the pride of Israel be uplifted?”, to which Hashem responds, “with ‘Ki Tisa,’” saying that the pride of Bnei Yisrael can be elevated by giving charity. Why did Hashem respond with Ki Tisa when the end of the Pasuk contains a more explicit example of tzedaka, “VeNatenu Ish Kofer Nafsho,” “every man shall give atonement for his soul?”
Rav Moshe Feinstein proposes that “Ki Tisa” teaches us a lesson about giving tzedakah; we should give in a manner and quantity that will allow the person to take pride in the donations. Whenever anybody gives charity—Jew and non-Jew alike—he has a sense of pride in doing so, but the only way for us to distinguish our giving from that of the general populace is by giving the fullest extent our means allow, and to make sure to give charity in a gracious and not condescending manner that gives respect to the recipient.
Rav Moshe suggests that the words “Ki Tisa” are directed at those who make excuses for not doing mitzvot. They blame their neglecting of their studies and being lax in their mitzvot on their inability to perform the mitzvot to the fullest degree. They therefore say that it would be presumptuous of them to even try at these things. Unfortunately, their “humility” is simply a manifestation of the yetzer hara attempting to keep people ignorant and away form mitzvot. The Torah states “Ki Tisa,” lift up your head, and be counted amongst the rest of Bnei Yisrael. This means that you are still counted as a full part of Bnei Yisrael and are expected to just as much as you can—no less and no more—because you, too, are part of Bnei Yisrael, with the potential to do mitzvot just like the rest of Bnei Yisrael. Just based on your own potential you can become as great as the greatest tzadikkim and rabbanim of Bnei Yisrael.
When Hashem wanted to count Bnei Yisrael, Hashem did it in a fashion that would make everyone feel uplifted by the counting and see himself equal to Moshe. Each of us must therefore take it upon ourselves to work at Torah and mitzvot to reach the level of tzadikim.
-Adapted from Darash Moshe