So far, so good. Unlike with the first Trumat HaLishka, this time we received no key back.

Mintage and pricing update

In about three weeks the master dies will be ready for the Holy Half-Shekel coins for the year 51. This time, we completed the graphics for the collector's edition first, so both the regular issue and collector's editions will be ready for immediate delivery.

To date, we have minted 7,200 coins for the year 50. We are going to make another 2,800 coins for the year 50 (barring any large orders) from the next minting (of 8,000 including year 51) and close the mintage at 10,000.

The last day to purchase year 50 coins at their current prices is Tu B'Av (August 7, 1998). From Tu B'Av we will be offering year 51 coins at the current prices. Year 50 coins will be available until stock runs out at the following prices:

For the year 51, we will once again produce 250 First Strike Proof specimens, of which 180 will be numbered, and 150 of those made available to the public (#'s 31-180). Those who purchased Proofs for the year 50 will have first option to purchase the same number they chose last year.

In addition to ordering the obverse and reverse dies for the year 51, we also ordered an additional reverse die depicting the emblem for Zahal (Israel Defense Forces) in the center. We are going to strike 100 coins, fifty with the obverse of the year 50 coin, and fifty with the obverse of the year 51 coin, both with the emblem of Zahal for the reverse. We are preparing packaging in army colors (yellow on khaki) that will read "Presented For Service to the State of Israel in the 50th Year of the State" and "Presented For Service to the State of Israel in the 51st Year of the State" on the outer envelopes. With these 50 sets we are going to convince the powers that be that every soldier who serves in Zahal, whether conscripts, reserves, or professionals should receive from Zahal, every year they serve, a Half-Shekel. Can you imagine the pride of someone who has served twenty years showing his collection of Half-Shekels? These coins can not be purchased. The only way to receive one is to serve. And since this Commandment is primarily a soldier's Commandment, we're right on the money! (Pun intended!) Of course the Commandment is for the soldier to give the Half-Shekel, and those who do, can give the coin they received from Zahal or another one which they purchase, so they can keep the special Zahal edition.

Submission of Coin Reverse Design For Year 52

We are now invitng the public to submit reverse designs for the year 52 coin. The obverse will depict the gold Incense vessel restored by the Temple Institute. The design may incorporate a scene related to the offering of the Incense (Ketoret) or any Half-Shekel or Temple related subject. The best submissions will be posted and you, the public, will choose the #1 design. The person who submits the winning design will receive an unnumbered First Strike Proof Specimen as well as recognition as the designer.

Albums

For those who are traditional coin collectors used to album collections, we will be offering, "Whitman" style albums with slidable glasine fronts and backs, sometime next year. It will be a deluxe album with information about each coin as well as the graphics from the collector's edition printed on each page.

The Golden Chest For OLD SHEKELS

We have begun work on the second of thirteen chests that stood in the Holy Temple, the chest for old shekels. The chest will have the same dimensions as the chest for new shekels (inspired by the Golden Incense Altar - our next project). The top will be different in that rather than the four 'horns' at the corners (representing the outer altar - the use of the new shekels) there will run a Jerusalem skyline (as the funds of old shekels go to the upkeep of Jerusalem).

What's this all about? New Shekels are the Half-Shekel you give for the current year. Old Shekels are the coins you contribute for previous years that you didn't give. For example, this year I gave my Half-Shekel for the first time. I am 39 years old. I didn't give my Half-Shekels from the age of 20 till 38, so next year, in addition to giving my coin to New Shekels, I am going to put 18 coins into the chest for Old Shekels to make up for all the years I missed.

The Commandment is encumbant upon us from age 20. If a parent begins giving for a child prior to age 20, they must continue giving until that child reaches 20, when they would be responsible for giving themselves.

Whereas the coins donated to New Shekels are subjected to Trumat HaLishka and the Hekdesh is transferred to the Chief Rabbinate, the funds from the Old Shekels-Shearith HaLishka (Remainder of the Office) go directly to prepare the city of Jerusalem for the Pilgrimage Festivals and to maintain the Walls of Jerusalem. These funds will be managed by the Jerusalem Foundation.

More information will be made available as we get closer to Purim 5759.

If anyone would like to sponsor the chest for old shekels, it's costing us $1,000 to produce it. We had the honor of sponsoring the production of the chest for new shekels ourselves and we would like to share the honor with others. There are 11 more chests to make, so a total of 12 of you can claim the distinction of having sponsored a chest for the Temple. The chests according to Mishnah Shekalim 6:5 are:

New Shekels
Old Shekels
Kinin
Gozlei Olah
Wood
Frankicense
Gold for the Holy Ark Cover
Motar Chatat
Motar Asham
Motar Kinei Zavin V'Zavot V'Yoledeth
Motar Korbonoth Nazir
Motar Asham Metzorah
Nadavah

Nothing you can do can have greater impact than creating facts on the ground. By creating these chests, we will have restored the means to accept Temple funds, and that will lead to further developements. Each day we get closer to making this a reality. Until each and every item is restored, the Temple will remain a fairytale, hovering somewhere in Heaven. With the bringing down of each and every aspect of the physical Temple, we draw it down to planet earth. When the majority of the physical vessels exist down here, their sheer weight will draw down the rest. The accompanying spiritual transformation will take place as vessel by vessel is restored until there exists enough Holy Space for G-d's Presence to descend.