Chief Rabbi Orders Massive Jump in 'Half-Shekel' Price and Tells You Exactly Who Should Get It
Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef rules a dramatic increase in the 'Half-Shekel' donation to 86 NIS for 2026 due to surging silver prices. Citing government budget cuts, the Rishon LeZion has issued a special instruction to give the funds to Torah scholars.
The Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Rishon LeZion Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, has announced a significant jump in the amount to be paid for Zecher LeMachatzit HaShekel for the year 2026. The amount has been set at 86 NIS per person, a dramatic increase attributed to a rare surge in global silver prices.
In his halakhic ruling, the Chief Rabbi explained that the amount is based on the value of nine grams of pure silver. Because silver prices on international markets have tripled since last year, the cost has risen accordingly. The Rabbi noted that the 86 NIS figure includes VAT and accounts for the actual cost of purchasing silver from dealers, rather than just the raw trading price on the stock exchange.
The ruling specifies the following guidelines:
In a specific reaction to current events, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef addressed the cancellation of government budgets for religious institutions. He instructed that this year, the half-shekel funds should be given specifically to Bnei Torah and Kollel students to help offset the loss of government funding.