Several giants in the financial world have recently been making headlines. Apple, with sales of its highly popular iPhones, iPads and iPods going through the roof, has seen its stock price rocket to incredible highs. Social media giant Facebook is raising billions of dollars through its IPO. And unfortunately for JP Morgan Chase and their stockholders, there’s been lots of publicity in the last few days due to a huge blunder, resulting in a $2 billion loss.

All of us, from Wall Street CEO to suburban soccer mom, and everyone in between, are affected and impacted by the state of the economy, and most affected by the state of our own personal finances. It is little wonder then, when faced with the question "How much are you worth?", that most people first think in terms of the bottom line on their latest bank statement and financial report.

In this week’s parsha, we find one of two places where the Torah uses very strong terms of tochacha (rebuke) to the Jewish nation as a whole. We are collectively warned of the very harsh punishments we will, G-d forbid, have to endure if we ignore and stray from the path of the Torah. Indeed, throughout the generations, we have seen many of these calamities come to fruition. However, Hashem (G-d) promised that He would never totally forsake us and that He would always recall the merits of our forefathers. Shortly after the conclusion of this section, we find that the Torah begins a very interesting discussion of what happens when a person makes a vow to donate his or her “personal value” to the Temple. The Torah specifies different values depending on one’s age and gender. At first glance, there is no apparent connection between these two sections. However, I would like to share an insight that connects these two ideas, which I heard many years ago. 

The Torah is actually addressing a question of personal worth. What one is truly worth is not dependent on any type of financial value at all. Rather, it is all about how we deal with the challenges, pain and suffering that we all go through during the course of our lives. The Torah wants us to realize that when we do go through trying times, when we endure all sorts of difficulties, yet remain steadfast and strong, not allowing anything or anyone to sway us from what we understand  to be eternal truths, that is the surest sign of true value and worth. So yes, the Torah assigns certain dollar amounts to be paid when one consecrates a vow to the Temple, but make no mistake. The Torah is not saying that figure is one’s true worth. Our true value is a function of how we deal with adversity, and with G-d’s help, how we overcome. Wishing you a great Shabbos.