B”H
The custom of giving money in remembrance of the half-shekel was instituted to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf. It was linked to Purim so that the Jewish people’s shekels would precede the shekels that Haman paid to Ahasuerus in exchange for the decree against the Jewish people.
וַיְדַבֵּר ה’ אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר: כִּי תִשָּׂא אֶת רֹאשׁ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְקֻדֵיהֶם וְנָתְנוּ אִישׁ כֹּפֶר נַפְשׁוֹ לַה’ בִּפְקֹד אֹתָם וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָהֶם נֶגֶף בִּפְקֹד אֹתָם: זֶה יִתְּנוּ כָּל הָעֹבֵר עַל הַפְּקֻדִים מַחֲצִית הַשֶּׁקֶל בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה הַשֶּׁקֶל מַחֲצִית הַשֶּׁקֶל תְּרוּמָה לַה’: (שמות ל’, י”א-ט”ז)
In the time of the Temple, half-shekels were donated for communal offerings; today, we fulfill this Mitzvah by giving to charity and charitable causes — and in doing so, we connect to the tremendous spiritual power embedded in it.
Through the merit of this mitzvah, may you be blessed with abundance, protection, health, and Divine care throughout the entire year!
The amount given corresponds to the value of the half-shekel as it was in the time of the Temple, equivalent to 9 grams of pure silver.
Through your half-shekel donation, the Barditchov institution assists thousands of those in need, distributing food baskets, supporting lone soldiers, helping widows and orphans, and spreading Torah, love, and kindness throughout the Land of Israel and around the world.
With your donation, you become a partner in a vast and sacred mission!
It was linked to the season of Purim so that the Jewish people’s shekels would precede the shekels that Haman paid to Ahasuerus in exchange for the decree against the Jewish people.
The custom is to give from the age of twenty, though some say from the age of thirteen, as was the practice in the time of the Temple. Since today it is a custom, and women and children were also part of the Purim miracle, it became customary to give on behalf of every Jewish soul. The segulah of fulfilling this mitzvah is great for protection and safeguarding.
The customary amount given is $40, and one who gives more is praiseworthy.
It is customary to give this amount to Torah and charity institutions, which distribute the half-shekel funds to the poor who toil in Torah study, and this is considered a mitzvah of the highest order.