Mishloach Manot: Difference between revisions

==When should it be done?==

# Mishloach Manot should be given during the day of [[purim]] and not the night. <Ref> Darkei Moshe 695:7 quotes Mahari Brin (based on the Rosh Megilah 1:6) who says that there’s only an obligation of Mishloach Manot during the day. The Rama codifies this in 695:4. Mishna Brurah 695:22 writes that only one must be given during the day, however, if one wants to give more Mishloach Manot one may give them at night. Rav Ovadyah in Chazon Ovadyah (pg 140) and Yalkut Yosef 695:4(2) holds like the Rama. </ref>

# One should ensure that the recipient notices that he received it before sunset. <ref> Aruch HaShulchan 695:16 writes that if the recipient doesn’t return home during the day and doesn’t know about it, even if his family accepts it for him, the giver doesn’t fulfill his obligation. Yalkut Yosef 695:4(28) agrees. However, Moadei Yeshurun (pg 59) quotes Rav Moshe Feinstein as saying that if a woman accepted Mishloach Manot on her husband’s behalf, the giver fulfills his obligation, even if he didn’t know about it on Purim </ref>

# To fulfill the obligation of Mishloach Manot, one must give two foods.  One food which is cut into two pieces is not considered two foods. <Ref>Aruch HaShulchan 695:14, Chazon Ovadyah ([[purim]] pg 125) </ref>

# Two food with two different tastes is considered two different foods. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 19:12 </ref>

==What type of foods?==

# If one sent food that is kosher but the receiver doesn’t hold of that hechsher, one fulfills the obligation. <ref> Sh”t Kinyan Torah 7:55 writes that one fulfills the obligation even according to the Trumat HaDeshen since he could sell it. Nishmat Avraham 695 quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman who also holds that you fulfill your obligation. Piskei Teshuvot 695:20 writes that if one sends kosher food but the receiver doesn’t eat because of a chumra one fulfills one’s obligation.  </ref>

# A drink counts just like a food, but some are strict to give two foods. <Ref> Trumat HaDeshen 111 writes that a drink counts just like a food. Many achronim agree including Magen Avraham 695:11, Mishna Brurah 695:20, Pri [[Chadash]] 695:4 (D”H Katuv BeTrumat), and Aruch HaShulchan 695:14. However, Chazon Ovadyah (pg 124) writes that it’s preferable to give two foods, not including drinks, because of the opinion of Rabbenu Chananel (Megilla 7b). Kovetz Halachot 17:9 says that water or seltzer would not count as one type. </ref>

==Non-foods==

# One doesn’t fulfill the obligation with anything that’s non-food, such as clothing or cigarettes. <Ref> Darkei Moshe 695:7 quotes the Maharil that it’s preferable to send food and not other items. However, the Darkei Moshe also quotes the Sh”t Trumat HaDeshen 111 who writes that one doesn’t fulfill their obligation with anything other than food and drinks. This is also the opinion of the Eliyah Rabba 695:9, Mishna Brurah 695:20, and Chazon Ovadyah ([[Purim]] pg 120) write that only food can be used and not clothing or other things against the Sh”t Halachot Ketonot 163 (quoted by Bear Hetiev 695:9), Nahar Shalom 695:2, and Sh”t Mei Yehuda 86. Similarly, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Purim]] pg 120-3), Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 9:33, and Sh”t Tirosh VeYitzhar 171:4 write that one doesn’t fulfill their obligation with cigarettes. However, Sh”t Divrei Yisrael (Waltz) 1:223 holds that one fulfills their obligation with cigarettes. See also Sh”t Rivivot Efraim 3:473:2 </ref>  

* Teshuvot VeHanhagot 2:346 writes that this seems to be a dispute in the Rishonim. Gemara Megilla 7b says that Abaye and Rabbi Chanina would exchange their meals on [[Purim]]. Rashi Megilla 7b explains that they switched off eating at each other’s Seudot. Bet Yosef 695:4 asks on Rashi how they fulfilled Mishloach Manot. Darkei Moshe 695:7 defends Rashi saying that the word “mishloach” is imprecise and there’s no difference in sending food and providing food for a guest. However, Rambam ([[Megillah]] 2:15) and Ran 3b explain each person sent his meal to his friend and his friend to him in order to fulfill Mishloach Manot, implying it needs to be sent.

* Chazon Ovadyah (pg 143-5) quotes Rav Ezra Attiah, who argues on the Binyan Tzion based on Kiddushin 23b which says that there’s no Shelichut if one couldn’t do it oneself. Rav Ovadyah answers that this only applies when the sender isn’t chayav in that mitzvah; however, all Jews are chayav in Mishloach Manot.

# One fulfills the obligation by sending the Mishloach Manot through a child or non-Jew. <Ref>Chazon Ovadyah (pg 145-6), Mekor Chaim 694, Chatom Sofer (Gittin 22b) </ref>

# If the person receiving the gift doesn’t want to accept, nonetheless, the giver has fulfilled his obligation. <ref> Rama 695:4 </ref> However, others argue that one hasn’t fulfilled his obligation. <ref> Chatom Sofer 196, Pri [[Chadash]] (quoted by Mishna Brurah 695:23) </ref>

# If one kneads the amount of dough to take [[Challah]] even if one plans on separating the dough as long as one isn’t concerned about the pieces touching one another, one should remove [[Challah]] without a Bracha. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 19:18 </ref>

# If one receives a lot of baked goods and put them together in a basket or in the refrigerator one doesn’t have to take [[Challah]] as it’s considered as if they have combined. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 19:19 </ref>

==Sources==