Mishloach Manot: Difference between revisions

There is a mitzvah of Mishloach Manot to give a gift of two foods to another Jew on [[Purim]]. <ref> The obligation of Mishloach Manot is explicit in Megillat Ester 9:22 and S”A 695:4. Chazon Ovadyah ([[Purim]] pg 142) writes that it’s obvious one doesn’t fulfill one’s obligation by sending to a non-Jew as he is not included in Reyeyhu. </ref>

==What is the primary purpose of Mishloach Manot?==

==How many Mishloach Manot should one give?==

# There’s an obligation to send one gift called Mishloach Manot, consisting of two foods, to one person on [[Purim]]. <Ref> Gemara Megilah 7a, Rambam (Megilah 2:15), Tur and S”A 695:4. While the Ben Ish Chai Parashat Tetzaveh 16 says not to put the different foods into one bowl since it may be that this combines them into one kind, Halachot Shlomo 2:19 as well as Teshuvot vihanhagot 2:346 disagree. </ref>

==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>

==What’s called two portions?==

# 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?==

# The food being sent should be cooked or ready to eat, however, some permit even if it’s raw but at least the animal has been slaughtered properly (shechita). <Ref> Maharil, Magen Avrham 795:11, Eliyah Rabba 695:8, Maaseh Rav (Siman 240), Chaye Adam 155:31, and Aruch HaShulchan 695:15 all hold that one must send a food that’s cooked and ready to eat. However, Pri [[Chadash]] 695:4 holds that it’s enough that it’s slaughtered even if it’s raw. Kodeshei David Chassan 695:4, Sh”t Shelat Yacov 61(1), Gefen Poriah (Megilah 7b), Sh”t Shevet Sofer 23, Netsiv in Emek Shelah (Siman 67:9), and Chazon Ovadyah ([[Purim]] pg 118) holds like the Pri [[Chadash]]. Mishna Brurah 695:20 brings both opinions. </ref> Canned food is considered ready to eat and is acceptable. <ref> Moadim UZmanim Volume Siman 186 </ref>

# If one sends bread it counts as one food and only one other is required. <Ref> Chazon Ovadyah ([[Purim]] pg 128), Kaf HaChaim 695:42 </ref>

# A filled pastry only counts as one food, and another food item is required. <Ref> Chazon Ovadyah ([[Purim]] pg 128) </ref>

# 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>  

# Some say women who send to other women fulfill their obligation by sending clothes. <Ref> Sh”t Bet Sharim OC 380 since the gifts that women enjoy nowsdays is clothing, one fulfills their obligation by sending clothing. Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 4:91 (D”H VeTzipiti) also supports this idea. However, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Purim]] pg 121), and Sh”t Haychalei Shen (3rd edition, siman 8) argue that in order to fulfill the obligation of sending manot, even for women one must send food and not clothing in order to fulfill one’s obligation. </ref>

# Additionally, one doesn’t fulfill their obligation by sending Chiddushei Torah. <ref> Chazon Ovadyah ([[Purim]] pg 123), Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 4:91 </ref>

# Some say that one may fulfill one’s obligation by sending candies to someone with diabetes or food that the receiver is allergic to, or unhealthy foods to someone on a diet. <Ref>Sh”t Yabia Omer (additions) 9:74, Halichot Shlomo 19:11, Piskei Teshuvot 695:20 </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==