1. The value of a Peruta & How to calculate?[1]

The Original Peruta?[2] The Peruta was the smallest form of currency in the times of the Mishna and Talmud. It was a copper coin. Its silver worth is the weight of half a barley, which is about .025 grams. Thus, the worth of a Peruta is 0.025 of one gram of silver [1/40th of a gram].

Its Value today: To find today’s value of a Peruta, one must take the current price of one gram of silver and multiply it by 0.025. Since a Peruta equals 1/40 of a gram of silver, its modern value is simply the price of silver per gram divided by 40. In accordance to the current price of silver as of 14th January 2026 which is $2.89 cents per gram, the value of a Peruta is 7 cents or 22 Agurot. It is critical for one to periodically verify anew as to the worth of silver, in order to know the current price of a Peruta.[3]

Adding Sales Tax to the Value: Some Rabbanim of today hold that one must also include the amount of sales tax levied on purchasing this amount of silver in his country [i.e. 17% in Israel, in U.S.A. depends on your state[4]].

Other Opinions on Value: Some Poskim[5] question that perhaps a Peruta must contain an amount that one can use to purchase a substantial item in one’s country, such as many fruits, and thus the above-mentioned minuscule amount is no longer accurate for today’s times. Practically, there is room for one to be stringent like this opinion.[6]

Areas in Halacha that a Peruta is relevant:

In Halacha, less than a Peruta is not considered money, and a value dependent Mitzvah cannot be fulfilled when using less than a Peruta. The following are some areas in Halacha in which a Perutas worth is relevant.

1. Tzedaka:[7] One who is careful to give money to charity each day prior to Davening is to give at least a Peruta’s worth. The same applies prior to candle lighting. [There is no record in the Shulchan Aruch of a minimum amount that must be given toward tzedakah for it to fulfill the mitzvah.[8] However, the Talmud[9] documents in multiple sections the practice of giving a Peruta as charity. In practice, many poskim[10] explicitly rule that the mitzvah of tzedakah can be fulfilled even by giving less than the value of a perutah. Nonetheless, the poskim[11] discourage giving such a minimal amount if doing so would embarrass the recipient. With regard to giving charity before prayer, the Talmud and Shulchan Aruch explicitly state that one should give a perutah to a pauper prior to prayer, as stated above. Therefore, although an argument can be made that even less than a perutah may be considered tzedakah, nonetheless, when giving for the sake of prayer, one is to give specifically the value of a perutah or more. This is likewise recorded in numerous letters of the Rebbe, which emphasize that the amount given before prayer, should be at least the value of a perutah and not less.[12] Furthermore, even at times of giving tzedakah unrelated to prayer, one should be careful to give at least the value of a perutah, as the Talmud[13] records that giving a perutah in tzedakah receives a special reward. Indeed, the Rebbe once implied that giving less than a perutah does not fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah[14], and whenever the Rebbe encouraged people to give charity, he consistently urged them to give at least the value of a perutah.[15] Practically, based on the current value of a perutah as of January 14, 2026, in Israel, one should give approximately 30 agorot each time. In the United States, the equivalent amount is approximately $0.08, and in Israel 30 aggurot.]
2. Matanos Laevyonim:[16] The minimum value one must give a pauper to fulfill the Mitzvah of Matanos Laevyonim is a Peruta.
3. Pidyon Maaser Sheiyni:[17] Maaser Sheiyni is redeemed onto a Peruta.
4. Kiddushin:[18] One may only marry a woman with an item worth a Peruta or more. If the item is worth less than a Peruta she remains single.
5. Moda Bemiktzas:[19] One who admits to a partial claim is only liable for a swear if he admitted to being liable for at least a Peruta’s worth of debt.

[1] Shiurei Torah 3:42

[2] Michaber Y.D. 331:133; E.H. 27; C.M. 88; Shiurei Torah ibid in name of Rambam; Rif; Ran in name of Geonim; Rabbeinu Chananel Shavuos 39b; Rosh Bechoros 8

[3] https://www.bullionvault.com/silver-price-chart.do Compared to $0.54 per gram in January 2017; Over the past 30 years the price of a gram of silver has fluctuated from a lowest of $3.75 per ounce [13 cents per gram, which makes a Peruta worth .325 of a cent!] to a highest of $47 per ounce [$1.67 per gram, which makes a Peruta worth 4.1 cents!] For a full chart of the fluctuation of the price of silver starting from 1988-2024, and the current price of silver for your date, see https://www.apmex.com/spotprices/silver-price

[4] https://sdbullion.com/sales-tax

[5] Smeh C.M. 88:2 concludes with Tzaruch Iyun; Shach Y.D. 294:16 in quote of Smeh; Tiferes Yisrael Shavuos 6:1 negates this opinion of Smeh, however Shiureiy Torah ibid p. 283 defends the ruling of Smeh concluding “It is a great Sevara to say that the Biblical Peruta has now lost its value”; See Nitei Gavriel Purim 65:1 that today in the USA a Peruta is no less than 5 cents and in Israel 10 Agurot.

How much is the Peruta worth today according to this opinion? Shiureiy Torah ibid concludes that a Peruta according to the Smeh/Shach is the amount of money in the country needed to purchase 20 grams of bread. In today’s time, this equals approximately 15 Agurot.

[6] Shiureiy Torah ibid “It is a great Sevara to say that the Biblical Peruta has now lost its value… One who desires to be stringent as rules the Smeh and Shach…”

[7] Admur 92:10; Michaber O.C. 92:10; Y.D. 249:14; Tur 92:10; Rambam Hilchos Matanos Aniyim 10:15; Bava Basra 10a “Rebbe Eliezer Yahiv Peruta Leanai Vehadar Matzli”; Taz 92:4; Siddur Im Dach p. 18; Tanya Igeres Hakodesh 8; Piskeiy Teshuvos 46:2; See Igros Kodesh 11:18 “A Peruta or two” [printed in Shulchan Menachem 1:151]

[8] No mention of a Peruta is recorded in Hilchos Tzedaka, Rama 250.

[9] Bava Basra 9b “Rebbe Yitzchak said: whoever gives a Peruta to a pauper is blessed with six blessings.”’; Bava Basra 10a “Rebbe Eliezer Yahiv Peruta Leanai Vehadar Matzli”

[10] Implication of Rama 249:4; Rabbeinu Yonah in Sefer Hayirah “Give a Peruta or half”; Sefer Chassidim 61; Beis Yitzchak 21:2; Torah Lishma 239; Maharil Diskin 1:24; Derech Emuna Hilchos Matanos Aniyim 7; Pesakim Uteshuvos 249:7 footnote 49; See also Likkutei Sichos 2:652, brought in Shulchan Menachem 5:103 that “Similarly, this follows the law of the machatzis ha‑shekel that was given to the Temple treasury, through which every individual received a share in every communal korban tamid and in all communal offerings in general — even if his personal contribution amounted to less than the value of a peruta.”; See Ohalei Sheim 2:113

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that one must give a significant value, otherwise he transgresses Dach Nichlam. [Yad Eliyahu Pesakim 61]

[11] Torah Lishma ibid]

[12] See Igros Kodesh 11:18 “A Peruta or two”; Shulchan Menachem 1:149; 5:102; Shaareiy Tzedaka in numerous areas

[13] See Bava Basra 9b “Rebbe Yitzchak said: whoever gives a Peruta to a pauper is blessed with six blessings.

[14] See Toras Menachem Hisvadyus 5749 2:181 footnote 34 “The mitzvah of tzedakah is fulfilled even when one gives a poor person food in the amount of a kezayis, or money equal to a peruta with which he can purchase a kezayis. For the halachic measure of eating is a kezayis (Yoma 81a and elsewhere), even though eating a kezayis does not fully settle a person’s mind, and only a k’koseves (a date‑sized amount) satisfies the mind (Yoma 80b). It therefore requires further analysis what the value of a k’koseves would be in our time.”; See however,

[15] See Shaareiy Tzedaka

[16] Ritva Megillah brought in M”B 694:2; Kaf Hachaim 694:7; See Ashel Avraham Butchach 695; The Peri Megadim [brought in M”B 694:2] writes he has not found an amount written anywhere.

Other Opinions: Some Poskim rule that the present must contain a minimum worth of three Kibeitzim of food [165 grams]. [Zera Yaakov 11 brought in Machazikei Bracha 694:2; Shaareiy Teshuvah 694:1; Ben Ish Chaiy Titzaveh 15; Kaf Hachaim 694:7 and 11; Meiy Yehuda 86; Pekudas Eliezer ibid] Other Poskim rule it must contain a Kebeitza worth. [Tzafnas Paneiach on Rambam Megillah 2:15] Other Poskim rule it is to be the size of one Grogeres [Pischeiy Teshuvah 694 based on Rama Y.D. 249:4] Other opinions rule it must be a present of importance. [Maharsha Megillah 7b]

[17] Michaber Y.D. 131:133

[18] Michaber E.H. 31:1

[19] Michaber C.M. 88:1