Purim

– Mishloach Manos: The Basic Mitzvah Essay, Research Paper

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WEEKLY-HALACHA FOR 5761

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SELECTED HALACHOS RELATING TO PURIM

By Rabbi Doniel Neustadt

Rav of Young Israel of Cleveland Heights

A discussion of Halachic topics related to the Purim. For final rulings,

consult your Rav.

MISHLOACH MANOS: THE BASIC MITZVAH

Mordechai and Esther, with the approval of the Rabbis of the time,

introduced a mitzvas assei(1) which obligates every person to send two

different kinds of foods to one friend on Purim. Two basic reasons are given

for this mitzvah:

There are impoverished people who are too embarrassed to collect tzedakah

for themselves and will therefore not have food for the seudas Purim. By

establishing a system whereby everyone receives packages of food on Purim,

the rabbis ensured that even the most reticent of individuals will have food

for the Purim seudah(2).

Sending food to a friend or an acquaintance is an expression of goodwill and

fraternity. On Purim we wish to instill and perpetuate these feelings(3).

The goals of both of these reasons must be met in order to fulfill the

mitzvah properly. For instance: One who sends clothing for mishloach manos

does not fulfill the mitzvah(4) since he did nothing for his friend’s Purim

meal. Similarly, one who sends mishloach manos anonymously does not fulfill

the mitzvah(5) since no friendship or goodwill is generated between him and

the recipient.

Nowadays, we are witness to a marked proliferation of mishloach manos.

Although mishloach manos is a relatively easy mitzvah to fulfill, if one is

unaware of the halachos, he could send dozens of mishloach manos and still

not properly fulfill the mitzvah. In addition, a clear distinction must be

drawn between the minimum requirements for fulfilling the mitzvah, and the

hiddur mitzvah, the more exacting form of fulfilling the mitzvah. There are

also some little known halachos which are important for those who wish to

fulfill the mitzvah according to the views of all the poskim. We have thus

split the halachos into two parts – the first part discusses the basic

rules, and the second part discusses chumros and hiddurim for those who wish

to embellish upon this once-a-year mitzvah.

MISHLOACH MANOS: THE BASIC RULES

1. Who should send: Men and women are personally obligated in this

mitzvah(6). Married women are obligated in their own right and are not

exempted by their husband’s mishloach manos(7). It is sufficient, however,

for husband and wife to send mishloach manos together, as if it is coming

from both of them – and the recipient recognizing that it is coming from

both(8).

Some poskim hold that children over 13 – even those who are being supported

by their parents – are obligated(9), while others exempt them since they do

not own anything in their own right(10).

Parents should educate their children in the mitzvah of mishloach manos as

they do with every mitzvah(11).

2. What to send: Any combination of two kinds of food(12), or one food and

one drink(13), or two kinds of drink(14), is sufficient. Two pieces of the

same food are considered as one food(15). Some poskim(16) specify that the

foods be ready to eat and require no further cooking, while others(17) allow

even uncooked foods to be sent.

3.To whom to send: To any Jewish(18) adult(19), wealthy or poor, with whom

you are acquainted or to whom you are related. Although men should send to

men only and women to women only(20), families may send to each other(21).

Mishloach manos should not be sent to a mourner(22) during the year of

mourning for his parents, or during the thirty days of mourning for other

relatives(23). A mourner who receives mishloach manos need not return them,

and the sender fulfills his mitzvah by sending those mishloach manos(24). It

is permitted for a woman to send to the wife of a mourner(25).

A mourner must send mishloach manos – even if he is in the middle of

shivah. A mourner should refrain from sending “items of simchah” (items that

elicit laughter and merriment)(26).

4. When to send: Mishloach Manos should be sent and received on Purim

day(27). If it is received at night or on the days before or after Purim,

the sender does not fulfill the mitzvah(28). If it is sent before Purim but

is received on Purim, some poskim hold that the mitzvah is fulfilled(29)

while others hold that it is not(30).

5. How to send: The sender himself may deliver the mishloach manos directly

to the recipient(31). Some poskim(32) hold that it is preferable to send it

via a messenger. The messenger may be a minor or a non-Jew(33). When sending

with a messenger, it is proper to verify that the mishloach manos was indeed

delivered(34), especially if the messenger is a minor or a non-Jew(35).

MISHLOACH MANOS: CHUMROS and HIDDURIM(36)

1. What to send: One should send foods which will be eaten at the seudas

Purim(37).

A wealthy person who sends inexpensive items of food does not fulfill the

mitzvah. In order for his mishloach manos to be considered as an expression

of friendship, its cost must be relative to the sender’s wealth(38).

One who sends inexpensive food items to a wealthy person does not fulfill

the mitzvah, since such items are meaningless and unappreciated by him(39).

The minimum amount of mishloach manos is a meal’s worth, about 6-7 fl. oz.

of food(40). Other poskim require that one send no less of a meal [in

volume] than one would normally serve a guest(41).

It is better to send two kinds of food than one food and one drink42 or two

kinds of drink(43).

Two different kinds of fruit are considered as one food(44).

Two different kinds of wine, e.g., red wine and white wine, are considered

as one kind of drink(45).

It is better not to send an item which the sender himself would not eat

because of kashrus considerations(46).