# Prutah — What is a shaveh prutah worth?

> Calculates the halachic value of prutah and half shekel using current exchange rates. (iPhone/iPad app by Yisrael Hersch.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prutah/id1000522129 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Yisrael Hersch](https://appshunter.io/developer/6818432436)
- Category: Lifestyle, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.6 · 6 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-06-11
- Data updated: 2026-10-24
- Monetization: free

## What is Prutah?

Up-to-date halachic value of a prutah (פרוטה), and a machatzit (half) hashekel (מחצית השקל), with the latest values available in the Today screen.

The prutah was a Talmudic era bronze (or copper) coin. The value was equivalent to the weight of half a barleycorn (generally accepted as 1/40th of a gram) of silver. The value of a prutah (שווה פרוטה) has halachic significance as the minimum amount acceptable to establish kiddushin (marriage) and as the minimum amount that can be given as tzedakah (charity).
 
On erev Purim, there is a custom to give three half-denomination coins of the local currency to charity, to recall the half-shekel (machatzit hashekel) that was donated annually to the Temple treasury in the month of Adar. Sephardi practice is to give the value of three coins, each of which is worth the amount of a Torah half shekel (approximately 10 grams of silver total).

## Key features

- Up-to-date prutah value
- Current half shekel value
- Halachic significance explained
- Uses latest exchange rates
- Supports Jewish law calculations

## Is Prutah safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess Prutah.

## Is Prutah legit?

Prutah appears to be a legitimate app. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Prutah is 83 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.


## Frequently asked questions about Prutah

### What is the halachic value of a prutah in Prutah?

Prutah calculates the up-to-date halachic value of a prutah based on the weight of silver equivalent to half a barleycorn. This value is significant for various Jewish legal matters.

### How does Prutah determine the value of a half shekel?

Prutah provides the current value for a half shekel, which is relevant for the custom of giving charity on Erev Purim. It reflects the historical Temple treasury donation.

### What exchange rates does Prutah use?

Prutah utilizes up-to-date currency exchange rates retrieved from Yahoo Finance to ensure accurate calculations of monetary values.

### What is the minimum amount for kiddushin and tzedakah?

The value of a prutah is the minimum amount acceptable to establish kiddushin (marriage) and the minimum amount that can be given as tzedakah (charity) according to Jewish law.

### Does Prutah have ads?

No, Prutah does not contain advertisements, providing an uninterrupted user experience.

### What devices does Prutah support?

Prutah is available for iPhone and iPad devices, ensuring accessibility for Apple users.

### When was Prutah last updated?

The latest version of Prutah was updated on September 10, 2015, with version 1.2.0.6.

### What is the age rating for Prutah?

Prutah has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 2.0.0 — 2026-10-22

• Updated silver-price and currency-exchange services.
• Faster country switching with saved exchange rates.
• Improved reliability when an internet connection is unavailable.
• Corrected silver-weight conversion using troy ounces.
• Larger text and clearer layout.
• Visible rate-update times and service credits.
• Refreshed launch screen and app icons.

### 1.2.0.6 — 2015-09-10

Ability to launch app from the Today screen.

### 1.1.0.5 — 2015-08-05

Added the value for machatzit (half) hashekel (מחצית השקל).

### 1.0.0.3 — 2015-06-11

No release notes.

## More apps by Yisrael Hersch

- [Pryme](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pryme/id955013440)

All apps by Yisrael Hersch: https://appshunter.io/developer/6818432436

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-24.*