How Can Divine Forgiveness Be Purchased?

In the Book of Exodus, the Jewish people are instructed to contribute a half-shekel coin towards the building of the tabernacle as “atonement for their souls,” and the commentaries explain that it atoned for the grievous sin of the golden calf.

Now, the very fact that a half-shekel, worth around five dollars today, can bring atonement for the worst sin in Jewish history, tells us something about the nature of the relationship between a Jew and G-d. Apparently, it’s not about the money.