Mishpatim: Shabbat Shekalim — The Amazing History of the Half-Shekel

Introduction

In this podcast, Rabbi Alex Israel explains the wonderful history of the half-shekel annual tax, from its origins as a method to take census in Moses’ time, to a strange coin discovered by Nachmanides when he arrived in Eretz Yisrael in 1265.

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Credits:
Larry Kluger – Creative Consultant
Arlene Harel – Production Coordinator

Alex Israel

Rabbi Alex Israel teaches Bible at Pardes. Born and raised in London, he holds degrees from London School of Economics, the Institute of Education London and Bar-Ilan University. Alex studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion under Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and Rav Yehudah Amital, and gained Rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Rabbinate.

Alex has taught for twenty years in many top Jerusalem Yeshivot and Midrashot. He is also a volunteer for Tzohar, a group that seeks to bridge the gaps between religious and secular communities In Israel. Alex lives with his wife and 4 children in Gush Etzion.