In the Gemara it says that someone in between 20 and 60 if they didn't give the 1/2 Shekel they'd force it out of them. But they'd just have a big box and people would put the 1/2 shekel into that box. How did they keep a record about who gave and who didn't?
Aaron Pacanowski, Melbourne, Australia
I had the same problem.
To answer the question, I guess that the Kohanim must have been familiar with all the local people (to whom this Halachah applies), or perhaps they even kept records of them, in which case, they may have ticked off all the locals who arrived, enabling them to keep check on those who did not.
Perhaps they even appointed a Kohen to perform this task. Perhaps one of the Gizbarin, Amarkolin or Katlikin (discussed on 14b) did it.
Be'Virchas Kol Tuv
Eliezer Chrysler.