The Parsha this week seems to start out with a simple instruction to take a census of the Israelites over the age of 20 (to serve in the army?). Ki Tissa, first of all, does not mean “take a census.” It means to “lift up“ one's self to be counted by giving atonement for wrongdoing! Each person is instructed to give a half shekel as an offering. The sages asked, why a half shekel? A response was that it takes another person to make a whole shekel, or to make one whole. Atonement doesn’t work unless it is done with another, or with others. Also, everyone, rich or poor, gives the same half shekel.
Read More