It is with great excitement, and praise and thanks to G-d, that we report the completion of the restoration of the Mitzvah of giving the Holy Half-Shekel.

A complete cycle has been achieved: the three Trumat HaLishka ceremonies for 5758 were performed. The Third Temple has a budget.

The proceeds of the third and final Trumat HaLishka ceremony for 5758, representing the Jews of the distant lands, were placed in the safe on the second floor of the Chief Rabbinate's office, joining the proceeds of the last two ceremonies.

As in ancient days, the third Trumat HaLishka ceremony was considerably richer than the previous two. In fact, it was almost double the first two together. Imagine, the custom is suspended for 1,928 years, and immediately upon its revival, it reverts to its ancient form naturally. It is reported in the Mishnah and Gemora that in ancient times, the third Trumah was the richest. And so it was once again in 5758. Unbelievable!

As a result of our calculated actions, we now find ourselves in a new Halachic environment. We have established the criteria for the weight and purity of the Holy Half-Shekel for this generation. Secondly, we have activated all the laws of Hekdesh (Sanctified Property) and Meilah (misapropriation, G-d forbid, of Sanctified Property) that were studied as theoretics for the last nineteen centuries.

We have reached into the Eighth Day to bring forth the Holy Half-Shekel, it now descends onto the seven days of Halachah. The service of Levi completed, responsibility now passes onto the Rabbanim of this generation to guide and lead the people into the correct observancce of this restored precious Commandent.

These are all incontrovertible facts on the ground. They will force us to rise to the occasion. We will see Rabbanim arise who will take responsibility - unafraid that they will be called Shabatai Tzvi - who will lead us to prepare ourselves to take responsibility for the coming Beit HaMikdash.

And the message of the Half-Shekel, that each of us is but a half, and that each "other" is also at least a half, has been played out by the hundreds of people who worked together and individually, to make this come to be. Jews from every viewpoint, including both men and women, devoted time, energy, and resources to make sure this became a reality. From Seattle to Anniston, Alabama; from Coral Springs, Florida to Brazil, from every corner of Israel, from England and Australia Half-Shekels came in. Colorado, Texas, Massachusetts, California, Washington, New York, Pennsylvania and more.

And we have only just begun.

To the calendar makers, there are three new dates to add to the list of Jewish celebrations annually, the three Trumat HaLishka ceremonies, which take place Erev Rosh Chodesh Nisan, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, and Erev Rosh Chodesh Tishrei. In the event that the day falls on a Friday or Shabbat, the ceremony will take place the preceeding Thursday.

The third Trumat HaLishka ceremony was preceeded by another historical event. For the first time since late in May of 67 C.E., when the last transportation of Hekdesh to arrive from abroad was hidden away in a cave near Isfiya on Mount Carmel because the way to Jerusalem was already blocked by Vespasian's forces, a Levite, boarded an airplane carrying Hekdesh to Jerusalem.

Arriving the day before the Trumat HaLishka ceremony, Bat Levi Michelle Kemp proceeded to deposit the hundreds of Half-Shekels into the chest for New Shekels.

Temple Beth El of Anniston, Alabama, lead by Rabbi Fred Raskin, provided Half-Shekels to all the congregants, who in turn contributed them in. As their Half-Shekels were deposited into the chest in Jerusalem, the names of every congregant were read out loud.

The ceremony proceeded as with the first two, with a few exceptions. The chest for New Shekels was carried by two Levites to Zion square, where the ceremony was held. Adding to the surrealism of the event, was the juxtaposition of this exotic ancient ritual being performed at mid-day in the middle of Jerusalem's busiest plaza, right in the center of town.

Rosh HaShanah is a good demarcation point to look back and see what has been achieved in the last year.

In 5758 the Half-Shekel was minted, distributed, collected in, and Trumat HaLishka Aleph, Bet, and Gimel performed. The chests for New Shekels and Old Shekels were constructed.

Contact has been established with the twenty Jewish institutions in Alabama as we work to systematically sign up every Jewish community in North America.

Articles have begun to appear on several continents as folks wake up to what's going on.

Not too shabby for one year's achievements. However, we dare not rest on our laurels. We hope to achieve even more in 5759!