There are four types of people in the world: Those who prepare their mishloach manos many days before Purim; those who prepare the day before Purim; those who recycle mishloach manos that they have received on Purim itself and those who do not fulfill the mitzvah at all. This article is written for all four types.
The Mitzvah
The Michtav M’Eliyahu writes that the best way to form a relationship is to give. When you give, you develop your ahavas Yisrael to that other person, and eventually to others. Mordechai and his beis din enacted that on the day of Purim, each person must send a gift of at least two portions of food to a friend. This is seen from the verse in Megillas Esther, “U’mishloach manos ish l’reieihu.”
The Two-Blessings Myth
The mitzvah is to send two different foods. The two foods may certainly have the same bracha; there is no requirement for the two different food items to have two separate brachos. This is one of the biggest misconceptions in hilchos Purim. There is an issue, however, of taking one food item and cutting it in half into two slices. The Aruch HaShulchan (Orach Chayim 695:14) writes that, “Just because one cut it in half, it should be considered two foods?” Perhaps it is this statement of the Aruch HaShulchan that has caused the two-blessing myth to exist.
Two Different Foods
The parameters of what constitutes two different foods have been delineated by the poskim. Rav Shlomo Miller, shlita, has ruled that one piece of roasted chicken and one piece of boiled chicken are considered two minim, but two different pieces of chicken prepared the same way—such as one top piece and one bottom piece are considered one type of food (see Sefer Shoshanas Yisrael cited by Rabbi Moshe Friedman).
Similarly, a mixed vegetable salad is considered one type of food only, while cut-up vegetables to be mixed into a salad are considered two minim.
A sandwich or hamburger in a bun is one min. This is even if it has two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, pareve cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame-seed bun. The same would be true with a hotdog in a bun.
The Reasons
What is the reason behind the mitzvah of mishloach manos? Two reasons are brought down: The Terumas HaDeshen (Siman 111) writes that it is to ensure that the recipients do not run out of food items to serve for their meals.
The Manos HaLevi on Megillas Esther (9:19)—written by Rav Shlomo Alkabetz and cited by the Chasam Sofer—writes an altogether different reason: to increase peace and brotherly love. This is the opposite of the characterization of the Jewish people by Haman as a nation that is “mefuzar u’mefurad—spread and standing apart” on account of internal arguments.
Preamble and Intentions
Rav Alexander Ziskind of Grodno was one of the only two individuals who ever received an approbation on a sefer from the Vilna Gaon himself. In his sefer, Yesod V’Shoresh HaAvodah, he includes a preamble that one should recite before fulfilling the mitzvah of mishloach manos. Translated from the Hebrew text, it reads, “For the unification of the name of the Holy One Blessed be He, I am hereby prepared and ready to fulfill the positive mitzvah of the sages of ‘u’mishloach manos one to the other.’”
When performing the mitzvah, one should not just perform it perfunctorily, but should focus on the qualities of the recipient and place within his heart a strong love for his fellow man.
Who Is Obligated?
Men and women are both included in this mitzvah. The halacha is that men send to men, and women send to women. Women are obligated in the mitzvah because—according to the Mishna Berura—they, too, were involved in the miracle. A child should be instructed to fulfill the mitzvah, just as one instructs a child to fulfill all the other mitzvos. The child may send to another child, as the other child is considered his or her peer.
Even a poor person is required to fulfill the mitzvah of mishloach manos. The mitzvah of mishloach manos may not be fulfilled with money, clothing or other non-food or non-drink items. The mitzvah may only be fulfilled with kosher items.
How Fancy?
Another little-known halacha about mishloach manos is found in an esoteric Biur Halacha (written by the Chofetz Chaim) in Orach Chaim 695. He writes that the Chayei Adam has proved from a passage in the Talmud Yerushalmi that if one sends a Purim package to a wealthy individual, the package must be a respectable one.
Thus, one should not send something below the kavod of the recipient. The poskim have ruled that a lollipop is not considered chashuv for an adult, nor is a bottle of Poland Spring water or seltzer. To fulfill the mitzvah, the portions must convey sufficient regard for the recipient.
Rav Shlomo Miller, shlita, ruled that one does fulfill the mitzvah with flavored seltzer water, even though regular water and regular seltzer are not sufficient to fulfill the mitzvah.
Wealth of the Giver and Of the Recipient
Getting back to the “respectable package” for the wealthy, the Biur Halacha writes that the Ritva’s comment on his version of the Talmud Bavli agrees with the Chayei Adam. A careful reading of the Ritva, however, reveals that the Ritva and Chayei Adam are not exactly the same. Both of them require an upgraded Purim package on account of wealth; of that there is no question. However, the Ritva’s requirement is of the wealth of the giver—not the recipient. According to the Ritva, if the giver is very wealthy, his package must reflect that as well and he cannot fulfill the mitzvah with a meager package. Since the Biur Halacha quotes both the Chayei Adam and the Ritva, both would seem to be authoritative.
Therefore, one should not send something below the kavod of the giver or the recipient.
Nature of the Package
The mitzvah is fulfilled only with foods that are immediately edible or drinkable. The Magen Avraham, Vilna Gaon and Chayei Adam hold this way. The Pri Chadash is lenient. We rule in accordance with the former view.
An item that requires further cooking or preparation may be added, but two immediately usable foods must be included. It is praiseworthy to send portions to as many friends as possible. It is better, however, to give more matanos l’evyonim than to give more mishloach manos to friends.
Through a Messenger
Ideally, mishloach manos should be sent through a messenger, rather than be delivered personally. Generally speaking, we say, “Mitzvah bo yoser mi beshlucho—it is a bigger mitzvah to do it oneself rather than through a messenger.” Here, though, it is different. The Chasam Sofer writes in his commentary to the Talmud (Gittin 22b), that the pasuk says, “ … and the sending of gifts—mishloach manos,” which indicates that it should be done through a messenger. If one did deliver the mishloach manos oneself, the obligation is still fulfilled.
School and Shul Programs
What about the school and shul? Schools and shuls often send out a flier and request you to participate in their mishloach manos program. While this idea is fantastic in terms of reducing the waste and excess in mishloach manos giving, the givers should be aware that one cannot and does not fulfill the actual mitzvah with this form of giving. Many people are unaware of this fact.
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