Q. (Se question above). Happy Purim Rov. Having experienced this year an unusual inflation and a great increase in prices, what is the minimum amount to be Yotze with the mitzva of Machatzis Hashekel this Purim? (5782-2022)
A. On question 3061 we wrote: “A Machatzis Hashekel is the value of 9.6 grams of silver lechumra and 7.5 grams in leniency. (Piskei Teshuva 694: 4)”
As mentioned in question above, at today’s (Adar II, 5782) price of silver (about $1.002 Cdn. per gram). So the value of one Machatzis Hashekel coin is between aprox. $10.00 and $7.55 Cdn. Tradition is to donate the three coins or their added value.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that you can use the lower figure. However, the Rov mentioned that the accepted minhag that where there is no coin designated as a half-shekel, it is customary for the Gabbaim to bring three US silver coins of half a dollar (older than 1964) or similar silver coins issued elsewhere, and to give these coins in exchange, to anyone who makes his contribution in the coins or money available to him. After performing the mitzva, the giver returns the three half-shekels to the plate so that others may also be able to observe the minhag properly.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that when dealing with people who are not familiar with the Halacha terms and conditions of acquiring and returning moneys or objects, it is better that they just say that they want to comply with the mitzva following the Halacha requirement necessary to do so. Then they just pick up the three silver coins and put in the plate the equivalent moneys representing their value.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a