Shekalim 3:2-3

Shekalim 3:2

There were three chests of three seah each (about six gallons) in the treasury, marked alef, beis and gimmel. Rabbi Yishmael said they were marked with the Greek letters alpha, beta and gamma. The one who withdrew the funds was not allowed to enter the treasury wearing a garment with a hem, shoes or sandals, tefillin or an amulet (so that no one should suspect him of stealing funds and concealing them in these places). Without this precaution, if he became poor, people would think it was a Divine punishment for misappropriating funds, and if he became wealthy, people would think it was because of his ill-gotten gains. It is important that a person please not only God but also other people as per Numbers 32:22, “You shall be innocent before God and Israel” and Proverbs 3:4, “find grace and good understanding in the eyes of God and man.”

Shekalim 3:3

Members of Rabban Gamliel’s household would enter the Temple treasury with the shekel between their fingers and they would throw it in front of the one who withdrew the money. The one withdrawing the money would then push it into the chest. He would not withdraw the money until he said to them, “I will withdraw” and they replied, “Withdraw, withdraw, withdraw” a total of three times.