Matanot LeEvyonim

From Halachipedia

It is preferable to increase in giving gifts to the poor rather than increasing one's seudah and mishloach manot as there is no greater happiness than making the poor and less fortunate happy. [1]

Who is obligated to give Matanos L'Evyonim?

  1. Both men and women are obligated to give Matanot L'evyonim, meaning one should give charity to two poor people. [2]
  2. Even a poor person who relies on charity to support himself is obligated to give Matanot L'evyonim. [3]

When should Matanot L'evyonim be given?

  1. Matanot LeEvyonim should be given during the day and not the night of purim. [4]
  2. If one gives Matanot LeEvyonim before purim and is sure that the poor person won’t use it before Purim one fulfilled one’s obligation and some are strict to give it on the day of Purim itself. [5] Similarly, before Purim one can give it to a messenger (Shaliach) who will give it on Purim itself. [6]
  3. One is permitted to give a check as long as one can draw the money on Purim, meaning the check is not postdated and the banks are open. [7]

How much does one have to give for Matanot L'evyonim

  1. One is obligated to give two gifts of charity to two poor people, one to each person. [8]
  2. Some say that the amount one should give for each of the poor people is at least Prutah (which is 2.5 Agurot which is a 1/25 of a Shekel) [9] whereas others say the minimum amount is how much it would cost to buy a meal of 3 KeBaytzim of bread. [10] It’s proper to be strict for the second opinion. [11]

Who should one give Matanot L'evyonim to?

  1. Nowadays, someone who doesn’t have a stable income that can support one’s family for normal expenses and doesn’t have property that’s not usually used and could be sold or if one has abnormal expenses such as for medical bills, or making a wedding for which one can not afford, is considered a poor person regarding this mitzvah. [12]

Sources

  1. ↑ Mishna Brurah 694:3, Rambam Hilchot Megillah 2:17, Masechet Sofrim 21:4
  2. ↑ Shulchan Aruch and Mishna Brurah 694:1, Piskei Teshuvot 695:15
  3. ↑ Shulchan Aruch and Mishna Brurah 694:1; the source for Matanot Laevyonim is found in the Megillah 9:22
  4. ↑ Rama 695:5, Magen Avraham 695:13, Mishna Brurah 695:22. Rav Moshe Feinstein is quoted in Balayla Hahu page 19 that if one cannot give during the day one can give at night even before the megilla is read.
  5. ↑ Piskei Teshuvot 694:8, Piskei Shemuot pg 144 quotes Rav Elyashiv who permits lechatchila
  6. ↑ Piskei Shemuot pg 144 quoting Rav Nassim Karlitz, Sh"t Mahari Assad 207, Daat Torah 695:4, Sh"t Chelkat Yaakov 1:102, Piskei Teshuvot 694:8
  7. ↑ Mishnah Halachot 6:122
  8. ↑ In the Gemara Megillah 7a, Rav Yosef says that one should give two gifts to two poor people for Matanot LeEvyonim. Rashi explains that one should give one gift to each poor person. He says that this is derived from the word Matanot, which being in plural means at least 2 gifts, and Evyonim, which being in plural at least 2 poor people. Tur and S”A 694:1 codify this as halacha.
  9. ↑ Mishna Brurah 694:2 quotes the Ritva saying that one fulfills one's obligation even with two prutot (one prutah per poor person). Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 7:27(7) (at end) seems to agree that this is the accepted halacha
  10. ↑ Shaarei Teshuva 694:1 quoting the Zera Emet 1:11, Maharsha (Megillah 7a), Kaf HaChaim 695:7, Teshuvot VeHanhagot 3:231, Piskei Teshuvot 694:6
  11. ↑ Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 694:1). Similarly, Yeme Mishteh VeSimcha pg 244 quotes Rav Elyashiv as saying that even though one fulfills one's obligation with a Prutah, nonetheless, it's proper to give each poor person about 5 shekalim which is an amount which would make the poor person happy. Halichot Shlomo (chap 19, note 62) quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman as having said that in order to fulfill all opinions one should give an amount which is significant by the giver and by the taker's standards.
  12. ↑ Piskei Teshuvot 694:2
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