“When you count the heads of the children of Israel to number them, each one of them shall give a ransom for his soul … half a Shekel … The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less.”
We should ask, 1) What is the meaning of the word “head”? 2) “A ransom for his soul,” what is the sin for which he must give a ransom for his soul, which is atonement? 3) Why specifically half a Shekel, why not give something complete, meaning a whole Shekel?
We should interpret this in ethics. There are two kinds of answers: in action, and in intention. “Head” means mind and knowledge, where there is the matter of intention, as it is written, “A prayer without an intention is like a body without a soul.” The intention belongs to the soul and the spirit, whereas the action belongs to the body.
This is implied by the word “heads” of the children of Israel, a ransom for his soul.” In other words, that which one sinned in the quality of the soul, meaning repentance in the intention, since this repentance applies to everyone, for man was created with a will to receive for himself, and in order to observe the Torah and Mitzvot [commandments] in order to bestow, this is repentance that each and every one must do.
In terms of the action, it can be said that he never sinned because since the day he was born he was given good upbringing and careful watch. But on the intention, there is the main choice that one must do, since on the intention there is no coercion. Only on the action can one force himself, but on the thought, meaning the intention, it is out of one’s hands. Rather, this is a gift from above. It was implied about this, “Were it not for the help of the Creator, he would not overcome it.”
We should interpret that half means that only the act is in man’s hands, and not the aim. Hence, it is implied by the “half,” meaning that if a person gives half, meaning the action, the Creator will give him the other half, namely the intention.
We should also understand that there is faith, which is charity, and there is Torah, which is a gift. A person must only give faith, which is charity, and this is called “the correction of creation.” At that time, the Creator gives the other half, which is Torah. A gift is called “the purpose of creation,” and the ransom for his soul pertains to the correction of creation.