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The fiery half-shekel teaches that true atonement comes when the fixed discipline of obligation is fused with the passionate upward striving of the soul, revealing the equal, essential core within every Jew. Eliyahu’s rebuke of “vacillating" exposes that spiritual indecision rooted in self-interest is more corrosive than open rebellion, yet even those who waver can return with redoubled strength. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Ki Sisa in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1. 📄 PDF of Sicha: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/a754ff9526.html 📄 PDF of Sicha in English by SIE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qsVE3m-WNKaL13a3gqCl5RByaK-ciHOa/view?usp=drive_link 📖 Buy Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1 at Kehot: https://store.kehotonline.com/mobile/prodinfo.asp?number=HRE-LS1 00:00 – Introduction: Rare Tanya printed in Tehran (1978) *First Sicha* 06:05 – The Half-Shekel and the Fiery Coin 08:23 – Moshe’s question: How can a small coin atone for a soul? 11:00 – The paradox: Coin (fixed value) vs. Fire (upward striving) 18:45 – Tzimtzum and the Throne of Glory 27:30 – Ratzu v’shov: The soul’s spiritual pulse 36:20 – Why rich and poor give the same half-shekel 46:50 – The goal: Discipline of a coin, passion of fire 52:00 – How atonement reaches the essence of the soul 1:08:50 – Why we give tzedakah before davening 1:23:35 – Intermission: R' Yair Elbaze of @InspirationJuive on the “30 Letters in 30 Days” project *Second Sicha* 1:28:13 – The Haftarah and the Crisis of Vacillation 1:29:14 – Eliyahu confronts the worshippers of Baal 1:31:00 – “Jumping between branches” — the deeper rebuke 1:40:00 – The root of idolatry: Self-interest and payoff thinking 1:48:50 – Why vacillation is worse than outright idolatry 1:58:15 – Living waters vs. broken cisterns 2:07:55 – The modern pressure to fit the spirit of the times 2:17:35 – The promise of a redoubled return 2:22:45 – Closing summary and upcoming classes announcement --- *For more classes from Rabbi Shais Taub:* 🌐 *Website:* https://www.soulwords.org/ *Follow Rabbi Shais Taub:* 📸 *Instagram:* https://www.instagram.com/rabbi_shais_taub 🎥 *TikTok:* https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbi_shais_taub 🐦 *X (Twitter):* https://www.x.com/ShaisTaub 📘 *Facebook:* https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573478244968 💼 *LinkedIn:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/shais-taub-81a95466/ 🎧 *Listen to the SoulWords Podcast:* 🎵 *Spotify:* https://open.spotify.com/show/51E7XHWFDbZCGJQz7CoAZP 🍏 *Apple Podcasts:* https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soulwords-full-library/id1450892501 *About SoulWords:* SoulWords is a virtual community hosted by Rabbi Shais Taub, where people come together to explore the spiritual insights of Torah and discover their unique purpose. This platform is here to facilitate your spiritual growth by sharing the mystical teachings of Judaism in contemporary language—making deep wisdom accessible and relevant to your life.
