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TRADITION

custom

· LENS C

Pidyon haben

How did this custom take shape across communities?

Redemption of the firstborn son at thirty days, five silver coins to a kohen, from Numbers 18:16 to US silver dollars and Bank of Israel mintings.

Reviewed 2026-07-30

Pidyon haben redeems a firstborn son at thirty days: five silver shekels given to a kohen, per Numbers 18:16, recalling the firstborn’s ancient dedication to service. The ceremony is a small family feast with the kohen’s dialogue preserved in the rite. Communities mint the commandment in their own currency: the US custom uses five silver dollars, and the Bank of Israel issues special coins for the ceremony.

Pidyon habencustom · documented
documented
many hands

VARIATIONS · ONE TRADITION, MANY HANDS

One tradition, many hands.

These are documented variations, not "authentic" vs. "adapted"; each belongs to its community.

The biblical five shekels

The rite’s anchor: Numbers 18:16 sets the redemption price at five silver shekels.

American: five silver dollars

The documented US custom redeems with five silver dollars.

Israeli: Bank of Israel coins

The Bank of Israel mints special silver coins for pidyon haben.

IN TEXT & MEMORY

Where the record sits

No canon text or figure record is tied to this tradition yet, the canon grows carefully, only where a record explicitly documents the link.

Sources & review

  • Pidyon haben guideThe rite and its practice.
  • Numbers 18:16
Reviewed 2026-07-30Know a documented variation we're missing?
Understand the words around this tradition