Mishpatim (משפטים – laws) Exodus from 21, 1 to 24, 18
Shabbat Sheqalim (שקלים – Sicles) Exodus from 30, 11 to 30, 16 1
Exodus 30, 11 and 12
כִּי תִשָּׂא אֶת-רֹאשׁ בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, לִפְקֻדֵיהֶם, וְנָתְנוּ אִישׁ כֹּפֶר נַפְשׁוֹ לַיי, בִּפְקֹד אֹתָם; וְלֹא-יִהְיֶה בָהֶם נֶגֶף, בִּפְקֹד אֹתָם.
When you make a general numbering of the children of Israel, each one of them shall pay the redemption of his person to the Lord at the time of the numbering, that there be no Mortality among them because of this operation.
יג זֶה יִתְּנוּ, כָּל-הָעֹבֵר עַל-הַפְּקֻדִים- מַחֲצִ sex הַשֶּׁקֶל, בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ:
This tribute, presented by all those who will be understood in the count, shall be half a shekel, according to the weight of the sanctuary;
According to the Halakha (Megillah 13b), one must give, before Purim, the remembrance silver of the half shekel given to the Temple. When we acquit ourselves, we must say “in remembrance of the half shekel” (Zecher Lemah’atsit Hashekel – זכר למחצית השקל).
The shekel is an ancient unit of weight as well as a monetary currency. It is equivalent to 180 grains of barley, or about 12 grams2.
Judean half-shekel of the 1st century:
Side face surrounding pomegranates, is inscribed Jerusalem3. On the tail side is a cut and the value of the coin.
1 beginning of Ki Tissa
2 in silver this corresponds to approximately 5€ or $5.10 or ₪20
3 in ancient Hebrew script