Coinage

PARSHA MATH ‫דברים פרק יב כ‬ ‫ל ָך ְ וְאמַרְתָ אֹכְל ָה‬-‫דבֶר‬ ִ ‫שר‬ ֶ ֲ‫גְבֻל ְך ָ כַא‬-‫חיב ה' אֱלֹקיך ָ אֶת‬ ִ ְ ‫יַר‬-‫כ ִי‬ :‫שר‬ ָ ָ‫שך ָ תֹאכ ַל ב‬ ְ ְ‫או ַת נַפ‬-‫שר בְכ ָל‬ ָ ָ‫שך ָ לֶאֱכֹל ב‬ ְ ְ‫תְאו ֶה נַפ‬-‫שר כ ִי‬ ָ ָ‫ב‬ The Tosefta Arochin 4:10 says in the name of Rabbi Elozor ben Azarioh that he who has 100 "monoh," may eat a "litra" of meat daily. Monoh, a unit of money that is equal to 100 "zuzim”

P

roblem 1: How many zuzim in 100 monoh?

How did Rabbi Elozor ben Azarioh arrive at this figure in order to eat meat? The Mordechai on the first chapter of B.B. says that 200 "zuzim" are a sufficient amount for a couple to live on for a year. We may assume that this is a bare minimum since if they had one "zuz" less, they are considered destitute. Thus for one person, 100 "zuzim" are needed per year for basic existence.

Mishnoh in Pei'oh 8:8 states that one who has 200 "zuzim" should not take charity, as he is not considered a poor man, an "oni."

Problem 2: 200 zuzim for two people; how many for one? The average life-span of a person is 70 years (T'hilim 90:10); Problem 3: Minimum for a person for a Lifetime? Our verse says that "when Hashem broadens your border," when He gives you an abundance of income, then it is appropriate for you to request meat as your fare. What is considered a broadening of income? We find this term used right in our verse referring to broadening our borders. This means that besides the land of the seven nations occupying Eretz Yisroel, Hashem will also eventually give us the land of the three nations, Keini, K'nizi, and Kadmoni. We see from this that broadening, an abundance, is increasing from 7 to 10. Similarly we can consider one's income as broadened when one has every seven "zuzim" increased to 10 "zuzim." Problem 4: Increase minimum (#3) from 7 to 10 This is why Rabbi Elozor ben Azarioh said that if one has 100 "monoh," it is appropriate for him to consume meat daily. Problem 5: 100 monoh equals how many zuzim?

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PARSHA MATH NOTES FOR TEACHER OR PARENT Age group – 10 years and up Objective of this lesson: Appreciate math in the Parsha Introduction to concepts within Judaism of unit values of coins

ANSWER SHEET Problem 1: How many zuzim in 100 monoh? One monoh equals 100 zuzim; 100 X 100 = 10,000 Problem 2: 200 zuzim for two people; how many for one? 200 for two ; 1= 200 / 2 = 100 Problem 3: Minimum for a person for a lifetime? 70 (average lifetime) X 100 = 7,000 Problem 4: Increase minimum (#3) from 7 to 10 7,000 / 7 * 10 = (7000/7) X 10 = (1000) X 10 = 10,000 Problem 5: 100 monoh equals how many zuzim? 100 X = 10,000 (same question as #1)

COINAGE IN THE TIMES OF CHAZAL 1 monoh 25 = ‫ מנה‬sela 50 = ‫ סלע‬shekel 100 = ‫ שקל‬zuz/dinar ‫זוז – דינר‬ = 600 meah 1200 = ‫ מעה‬pundinar 2400 = ‫ פונדינר‬isar ‫איסר‬ = 19,200 perutah ‫פרוטה‬

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