The Shekel is an ancient form of currency that was used in the Middle East. It is a unit of WEIGHT and currency that was first used in Mesopotamia around 3000 BC. The Shekel was also used in the Kingdom of Israel and Judah during the Iron Age. The term Shekel is derived from the Hebrew word for 'WEIGHT' and is still used today as a unit of currency in Israel. The Shekel is also used in some other countries, such as Lebanon and Syria.