The Importance of Mishloach Manot During the Purim Festivities

Mishloach manot is a vital part of Purim- the Jewish holiday that celebrates the Jews’ victory over persecution.

Mishloach manot is a gift basket sent to friends or family during the Jewish holiday called Purim. “Mishloach manot” translates from Hebrew to English as “sending of portions.” On the day of Purim, it is a requirement for Jews to send mishloach manot to friends and family no matter the circumstances- including financial reasons. These gift baskets must contain a certain number of food portions to be considered mishloach manot. To learn more about this fascinating Jewish tradition, keep reading. In this article, you can discover more about:

* The holiday of Purim
* Why mishloach manot is a requirement at Purim
* What is included in the gift baskets
* How and when to send mishloach manot
* Mishloach manot ideas

The Holiday of Purim

Described in the book of Esther, Purim is the holiday that remembers when Jews escaped persecution and genocide in ancient Persia.

In the 4th century B.C.E., the Persian empire maintained a large amount of land. Included in the realm was a large population of Jewish people. During this time, the prime minister of Persia was a man named Haman. When the leader of the Persian Jews- Mordecai- refused to bow to Haman, the prime minister convinced the king to wipe out the entire Jewish population.

Meanwhile, the Persian king had recently executed his wife for disobedience. Soon after, he took an interest in a Jewish woman named Esther. He later married her, but she kept her religion a secret from him. When Esther found out about her husband’s plan to kill all the Jews in Persia, she revealed her identity and denounced the king’s actions.

Upon Mordecai’s recommendation, all the Jews, including Esther, fasted and prayed so that God may help them in their time of extreme persecution. The king decided on the 13th of the Jewish month of Adar to go through with the executions.

Ultimately, the Jews in Persia successfully defended themselves. Additionally, the evil prime minister died, and Mordecai replaced him.

The intended date of execution was the 13th of Adar, and the 14th was the day when the Jews rested after their triumph. Therefore, the celebration of Purim occurs on the 14th day of Adar. Although the Jewish calendar does not align with the Gregorian calendar, Purim usually occurs around the beginning of March.

As a result of its history, Purim is a celebration that commemorates the Jews’ success in overcoming evil. The Torah does not explicitly say that God was directly involved with this victorious event. However, today many Jews associate it with a miracle brought upon them by God.

Overall, Purim is a joyful event in which Jews participate in fun, community-based activities. Some of which include reading the book of Esther together, baking traditional pastries, and, of course, giving mishloach manot to friends and family.

Why Mishloach Manot Is a Requirement at Purim

During Purim, Jews must present mishloach manot to friends or family members. In the book of Esther, the Torah commands that Jews celebrate Purim on the 14th of Adar. Additionally, the passage tells Jews to give “portions” to one another on this day. From this message, rabbis teach that everyone must provide mishloach manot on Purim.

The tradition of giving mishloach manot began because the evil prime minister- Haman- claimed that the Jewish population of Persia was a divided group. The action of giving the mishloach manot counteracts Haman’s allegations and unites the Jewish community.

Another reason for requiring mishloach manot during Purim is to encourage giving to the poor. However, rabbis did not want the poor to feel humiliated that they could not provide a mishloach manot. Therefore, rabbis required that all Jews- no matter their financial status- must give mishloach manot at Purim.

What Is Included in the Gift Baskets

Mishloach manot does not necessarily mean that the gift must be a basket. If the gift includes at least two different kinds of foods, then the mishloach manot counts. There also is no requirement for the size of the present. As a result, there are so many creative ways to send gifts to people on Purim.

A requirement for mishloach manot is that it must contain foods from at least two different categories. For example, if you include fresh fruit, then it is customary to add something like chips. Additionally, all the food must be ready to eat.

How and When to Send Mishloach Manot

It is essential to send mishloach manot in person. Many rabbis claim that one’s mishloach manot does not count if the recipient does not receive it in person. It is also tradition to send gifts through a third party.

There is also a tradition that says mishloach manot be sent based on gender. Meaning, women usually send their gifts to other women, and men send theirs to other men. It is also important to remember that people in the process of grieving a family member typically do not receive mishloach manot.

The exchange of mishloach manot should occur on the day of Purim. The day before or after disqualifies the gift as an acceptable mishloach manot.

To ensure that every person fulfills their mishloach manot requirement, synagogues set up fundraisers to which families contribute. Members of the community give money, and the funds go toward the creation of mishloach manots that volunteers then send to each family that contributed.

Mishloach Manot Ideas

As mishloach manot is a gift for a specific person, sometimes it can be challenging to create a unique basket that satisfies them, and just because it is a requirement during Purim, does not mean that all mishloach manot must be similar.

To keep things creative, you can mix up the different elements of your mishloach manot. For example, you can select a funky basket that can surely impress your friends or family, and picking a fun bow adds an exciting bit of personality. Many also suggest creating a themed basket. These can range from movie theater food to a fancy wine and cheese basket.

No matter what you send on Purim, the mishloach manot is a vital part of the holiday’s festivities. It unites the community and brings happiness to the ones you love.