Halachik Measurements, Weights, and the Kesuva

The Biblical measurements and weights are interrelated. If we know the size of the Biblical "amah" we can calculate the weight of the Biblical (pure) silver Shekel. The method that we use is to calculate the cubic volume of the socket "adon" of the Tabernacle of Moshe Rabainu (the prophet Moses) whose weight was equal to three thousand pure silver "shekolim" coins, and from there calculate the weight of the socket knowing the weight of pure silver per cubic volume, and we then know the weight of each Shekel.

The cubic volume of the socket = (1 amah) x (1 amah) x (0.75 amah) less the rectangular cut out in the middle made to receive the tenon of the wood beam. The cubic volume of this cutout measured, (1 amah) x (0.5 amah) x (0.25 amah). Therefore, the cubic volume of the adon = (0.625) x (amah³).

The calculation of the size of the amah is based on Tractate Pesachim (page 94 side one) that is interpreted to mean that the semi-circumference of the equator is six thousand Parsee. The Parsah referred to here uses the Construction Standard of measurement where 1 Construction Parsah = 8,000 Construction amos, and 1 Construction amah = 20 agodlim. Therefore, 6,000 Parsee = 960,000,000 agodlim = 12,450.775 mi.= 20,033.296,975 km. Therefore, an agodol = 2.086,801,768 cm. and an a halachik amah of 24 agodlim = 0.500,832,424,3 mt.

We now calculate the cu.ft. of the Adon (socket) by the previous formula. (0.625) x (amah)³ = (0.625) x (1.643,502,3)³ = 2.774,528,2 ft³ = 1 adon. The weight of pure silver per cu.ft. = 655 lb./ft.³ = 10,480 oz./ft.³ , and per cu.mt. = 10,499,005grams/mt³, therefore, the weight of 1 adon = 29,077.177,6 oz./adon º 3,000 Shekolim = 9.692,351 oz. = 1 silver shekel º 20 Gairah = 0.484,617,591 oz.= 13.738,908,718 gram = 1 Gairah of pure silver. Other Bible commentaries disagree with Rashi and are of the opinion that the Biblical Shekel is more or less about the same weight as the government coined Shekel during the times of the Roman occupation of Israel. However, no coins were found having markings that they belong to the Holy Temple. It would be necessary for such coins to bear such inscriptions in order that they are not mistaken with coins that are not Holy. According to these commentaries the weight of the Biblical Shekel varies between 11 grams and 17.22 grams. According to this, the weight of the two adonom for each beam was maximum (3,000) x (2) x (17.22) = 103 kilogram = 227 lb. The beam however weighed [(9 amah) x (1.5 amah) x (1 amah)] + {2 x [(1 amah) x (0.25 amah) x (0.5 amah)]} = (13.625 amah³) = 60.485ft³ x 39 lb./ft³/cedar-wood = 1,070 kg. = 2,359 lb. Therefore, a 227lb. adon could not support a beam weighing 2,359 lb. If so, how was it possible to align the beams in perfect order and hold them in place until they were ready to insert the rods (biree'chim) through them in order to join them together, when only one person was able to hold on beam one side and another person at the opposite side. They could not have used ropes with many people pulling them because the ropes would separate one beam from the other. The only way it could have been done is by many people lifting each beam and balancing it, then they would entrust it in the hands of a two people to keep the beams balanced. This still would be extremely difficult especially on a wind blowing day. However, according to Rashi, the two adonim weighed about 3,634 lb. or about 1,275 lb. more than the beam thus supporting the beams and aligning them so that the rods (biree'chim) will fit.

The prophet Moses (Moshe Robainu) minted a half-shekel coin to be used in the holy tabernacle only and not to circulate as a type of currency. Therefore, they made purchases from these coins by melting them down and paying for the goods in silver weight. The purpose of minting these special coins was to beautify the mitzvah, and instead of paying the half-shekel with various Egyptian coins, parts of coins, and pieces of precious metals, they were used to purcase a nice looking half-shekel coin. According to the halacha it was not necessary to use a half-shekel coin, and in the days of the second temple they used to pay their annual obligation with mini-shekel silver coins that was 1/22 of the halachik shekel, and eleven such shekels eq1ualed a half-shekel. Therefore we have not found any half-shekel coins the size of Rashi's half-shekel coin.

The Rabbis substituted the Shekel with a Selah-Tzuri = 1.2 Shekel = 4 Dinrim = 24 Gairah = 11.6308oz. The fomula for the weight of a Half-Shekel in Metric measurements is, Half-Shekel grams = (824,338.2883) º (6,000 Half-Shekolim/adon) = 137.3897 grams, and for an Amah = ³\/ (1,093.6464) º (Half-Shekel grams). The five Selah-Tzuri that are given to the Kohain for Pidyon-Haben (redemption of the first-born if male), and the value of the Kesuvah, are now calculated in Selah-Tzuri.

The price of pure silver and gold is determined on the metals commodity market but it does not include delivery costs and taxes. They use the Troy Weight standard where 480 grains = 1 Troy oz. and 12 Troy oz.= 1 Troy lb. The conversion factor to the Metric System is 1 Troy oz.= 31.103 grams. Therefore, 1 gram = 0.032,151,239,43 Troy oz. and a Gairah which is 13.738,908,718 grams is 0.441,722,943,69 of a Troy oz. The market price of pure silver fluctuates between $4.90 and $5.20 a Troy oz., and the price of a gram of pure silver consequently varies between $0.157,541,073 and $0.167,186,445 and the price of a Gairah varies between $2.1644 and $2.296,96 . Therefore, the value of five Selah-Tzuri for Pidyon- Haben varies between $260.00 and $276.00 . For those who prefer to pay this amount with minted U.S. pure silver dollars weighing 1 Troy oz. = 31.103 grams, the amount needed is fifty four such coins, but they sell at more than twice the price of a plain bar of pure silver for the same weight. The value of a virgins Kesuvah according to the accepted Ashkenazi custom, varies between $12,987.00 and $13,782.00 . The value of a non-virgins Kesuvah is half the amount of a virgins Kesuvah. Furthermore, it does not take much to raise the market value way above the norm.

The cubic volume of a Baitzah is calculated by the dimensions of the minimum size of a Mikvah, which is (1 amah) x (1 amah) x (3 amos) = 376,876.064,9 cm.cu.ml. º 5,760 Baitzos (in a Mikvah) = 65.429,872,38 cm.cu.ml. = 1 Baitzah. The Mikvah must be larger when needed to fit a larger body.

There are uncertainty factors that must be added or subtracted from the large measurements. If at the time of the giving of the Torah the circumference of the equator was only 4 mi. or 6.5 km. less than today then the mil = 2,000 amah would be 16 cm. less. The weight per cu. volume of pure silver can vary by the definition of pure silver as to the degree of refining needed to be classified as pure silver, and also where it was mined, and the temperature, etc.

In ancient times a husband was able to hand his wife a Get or divorce (a Get is a halachik divorce paper) without her agreement. This became a matter of concern for the Rabbis because the husband will find someone else and easily and quickly divorce his wife leaving her with the responsibility of the household and her former husband gets away without any obligations. These situations could lead to an epidemic of divorces. There was further concern for the widows financial plight and how to help her make a new start in life so that she will not be a burden to the community or bound to her children.

The Rabbis innovated a mandatory marriage contract named a Kesuvah to counter these problems with the understanding that if a husband will have to pay his wife a large sum of money in order to divorce her he will not divorce her unless there are very compelling reasons to do so. A widow is also entitled to collect the monies of the Kesuvah. The amount of the Kesuvah is standardized by a fixed weight of pure silver.

Throughout Jewish history the amount of the Kesuvah has been adjusted according to the standard of living, meaning, what goods can be purchased with the value of the Kesuvah. However, for the past five hundred years or longer the last amount that was fixed remained stationary, according to Ashkenasi Jewish custom, although their communities have seen much turbulence and upheaval throughout this period. The basis of this custom is that the Rabbis prohibited the husband from divorcing his wife against her will. This automatically means that if one of the couple want a divorce the divorce must be arbitrated in a Rabbinical court where the Rabbis are empowered to give her a fair deal. This also means that the Rabbinical court can require the husband to pay the amount of the Kesuvah according to the greater amount according to Rashi. The Rabbinical courts in Israel settle for much more than the value of the Kesuva for a faithful wife. This however did not help the financial problems of the widow, but the true value of the Kesuva is enough to help her for a period of time after the tragedy.

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