Commemoration of Half Shekel

Commemoration of Ceremonial Half Shekel
State Medal, 5744 - 1984

According to Jewish sages, the world is based upon three things: "The Torah, the temple service, and the practice of charity". Every man, from age 13 upwards, contributed a half-sheqel for the temple service. On the eve of Purim, it is usual to contribute in commemoration of the custom of the gift of the half-sheqel. Generally, a coin or medal with a content of 10 grams pure silver, like the "half-sheqel", is used. This also serves to commemorate the victory of the Jews over the tyrant Haman. Haman had paid a sum of 10,000 sheqels to King Xerxes to destroy the Jews. The Jews countered this move by making a payment to King Xerxes with their own sheqels.

Obverse: Copy of the ancient half-sheqel coin and the words: "In commemoration of the ceremonial half - sheqel".

Reverse: Intertwined Stars of David, expressing the brotherhood of the Jewish People, and the verse: "Go, gather together all the Jews" (Book of Esther4:16).

Edge: The words "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English.

Serialization: The medals are numbered.

Designer: Obverse - Yaacov Enyedi. Reverse - Asaf Berg.

Engraving: Moshe Nov.

Mint: The Government Mint, Jerusalem.