05 Mar THE MITZVAH OF MISHLOACH MANOS

The Mitzvah
One is obligated to
send mishloach manos
on Purim to his friend
etc. This mitzvah was
introduced during the
time of Mordechai and
Esther and is considered
a divrei kabbalah
mitzvah and not a
d’oraisa. There are two
basic reasons for this mitzvah; The Terumas
Hadeshen says the reason is in order that
everyone should have food for the seuda. The
opinion of the Manos Ha’Levi is in order to
promote friendship on Purim one should give
gifts to one another. The obligation is to send
two items (which items will be discussed) to
one person. However, the poskim encourage
that the more mishloach manos one sends
the more fortunate he is.When one sends
mishloach manos he should fulfill the mitzvah
and satisfy both reasons.For example, one
who sends clothing has not satisfied both
reasons, since he cannot use it for the meal
(refer below). The poskim offer different
reasons as to why there is no beracha recited
on the mitzvah of mishloach manos (see
footnote).
Eating Before Sending Mishloach Manos
There are some poskim that say one should
not eat (a substantial amount of food, tasting
is permitted) before performing the mitzvah
of mishloach manos However, most poskim
say that one is permitted to eat before the
mitzvah is performed. The reason for this
leniency is because one will not forget to
send the mishloach manos, since most of the
day people are busy sending him mishloach
manos, therefore, he will remember to give
as well.
Mishloach Manos First Or Matanos
L’evyonim?
Many say that one should give matanos
l’evyonim before giving mishloach manos.
Others maintain that mishloach manos should
be given before matanos l’evyonim since
mishloach manos is stated first in the posuk.
Women’s Obligation
Some poskim maintain that women are not
obligated in this mitzvah, however, most
poskim say that women are obligated to
send mishloach manos. Women should be
careful and only send to women and not to
men.Some poskim maintain that a woman
who is sending mishloach manos may send
clothing.Many women are busy preparing
the mishloach manos, and the men do not
get involved. However, the men should have
a role in the mishloach manos as well.Some
say it is sufficient for a husband and wife to
send mishloach manos together, thereby the
mishloach manos is coming from both of

them A woman who is working for a frum-
male boss should say that her mishloach

manos is from my husband.

Young Children Participating In the
Mitzvah
It is good chinuch for one to train his young
children in the mitzvah of mishloach manos.
Some say this can be accomplished by
appointing your child as your mishloach
manos deliverer. Others say one should give
mishloach manos or money to the child to
buy mishloach manos so that they can fulfill
this mitzvah. Some poskim hold that children
over 13 even those who are being supported
by their parents are obligated, while other
poskim maintain that they are exempt, and
are included with their parents.
The Correct Time
The correct time to send mishloach manos
is on the day of Purim, and not the night of
the Megilla reading.If one sent his mishloach
manos at night he was not yotzei his
obligation and he must fulfill his obligation of
mishloach manos by day. (However, one must
keep in mind this is only the first one that one
is sending. The mishloach manos that he will
be sending to other people may be given at
night).
What to Send?
Some say that one may send the same type of
food as long as it is two separate pieces,for
example, one may send two of the same
type of fruits. Most poskim maintain that
it has to be two separate tasting foods.For
example, one may send a piece of meat and a
cracker, etc. One is not yotzei two minim with
sending an ice cream sandwich. The reason is
because sending one min with two berachos
is considered one min.Two different berachos
are not required to be considered two different
manos according to any opinion. One does
not have to only send food items; a drink is
considered a food item as well, therefore, one
may send one drink item and one food item.
Many poskim maintain that one may not send
raw food as mishloach manos. Others say that
raw food is permitted since one can cook the
food if he wishes. One may send a frozen
food since it is possible that one may defrost
it. One may send packaged food even though
it is not fit to eat “as is,” since he has to open
the package prior to eating the food. Sending
breadwith a tavshil is considered two minim.
Some send candies or chocolate as mishloach
manos. One should send food that can be
eaten by the seuda to at least one person.
Non-Food Items
One who sends non-food items as mishloach
manos was not yotzei his obligation of
mishloach manos. A person may not send a
sefer as mishloach manos. Money may not
be sent either. Some poskim say that one may
send non-food items, however, this does not
seem to be the custom.
The Shiur
There is a certain amount of uncertainty as to
exactly what the shiur of mishloach manos
is. Some say that the food sent should consist
of 6-7 oz. of food,while others maintain one
should send the amount of food he would

serve his own guest. The poskim stress that
an important size (daver chashuv) should be
given. One may send a candy tray since it is
different minim. The minhag seems to be to
send cake and chocolate as mishloach manos.
Sending a Item without a Good Hechsher
One who sends food to someone who does
not trust that specific hechsher was still yotzei
his mitzvah of mishloach manos. The same
holds true for someone who sends a certain
item to his friend who is on a diet, and does
not eat that specific food.
Giving It on One Plate At One Time
The custom is that the two manos may be
given in one utensil and it is still considered
giving two manos. Initially, one should give
both manos at the same time; others maintain
that if one gave them one after the other it is
fine.
Do You Need a Messenger?
Some poskim maintain that one should only
send the mishloach manos with a shliach–
messenger. Most poskim maintain that one
does not have to send it with a shliach, and
one may deliver it by himself. Nonetheless,
one should send at least one set of mishloach
manos with a messenger to go in accordance
with all opinions. One may send the
mishloach manos through a young child or a
goy. Some say the reason why the mishloach
manos recipient gives money to the young
child when he delivers the mishloach manos
is because this way the sender is assured that
the child accomplished his shlichos.
Who to Send It To?
One should send the mishloach manos to
his friends since the posuk says “r’eyhu.”
Some poskim maintain that one should not
send the mishloach manos to someone that
he does not get along with since he is not his
r’eyhu.Others maintain sending mishloach
manos to someone you do not get along with
is encouraged, since it will hopefully bring
r’eyhus. One’s Rebbe is considered a friend,
and therefore, one may send mishloach
manos to his Rebbe.A person may send
mishloach manos to his in-laws. There is a
discussion in the poskim whether if one sends
mishloach manos to his parents is he yotzei
the mitzvah. It would seem that sending
mishloach manos to them is a fulfillment of
the mitzvah. Many poskim maintain that one
is not yotzei mishloach manos when sending
to a child under bar-mitzvah. A person’s wife
is considered his friend and therefore one may
send mishloach manos to her.
A Morner- A mourner has an obligation
to send mishloach manos on Purim like
everyone else. A mourner who is within the
year for his or her parents or a mourner who
is within the shloshim of other relatives may
not receive mishloach manos. One may send
mishloach manos to a mourner’s wife. A Rav
who is a mourner may still accept money on
Purim which is usually given to him as an
expression of hakaras hatov. Some poskim
maintain that the Rav should not be given

food. If one’s parent is a mourner, one may
send them mishloach manos anyway.
Being Yotzei Through A Seuda Etc.
One that hosts the seduas Purim for his
family/friends may be yotzei the mitzvah of
mishloach manos through this meal.When
one accepts mishloach manos it becomes his
own personal property, and he can whatever
he likes with it. For example; he may send
what he received to someone else, and it is
still considered as if he bought the mishloach
manos. Once the sender sent mishloach
manos, it does not make a difference if the
recipient used it at his meal, the sender was
still yotzei his obligation.
Arranging Mishloach Manos through a
Store or Company
If one is unable to prepare his own mishlaoch
manos and he arranges for an organization to
prepare and send it for him, he was yotzei his
mitzvah.
Different Scenarios
Sent It But Got Lost Or Stolen – if one sent
mishloach manos and it was lost or stolen one
was not yotzei and he must send it again. It
Was Sent Before Purim– according to some
poskim if one sent mishloach manos before
Purim and it was received on Purim one has
fulfilled his obligation,[ while others maintain
that one was not yotzei. The Recipient Is
Mochel– if for some reason the recipient says
he does not want the mishloach manos, the
sender was not yotzei in his obligation. Sent
It Without A Name– if one sends mishloach
manos and his name was not written on the
package he was not yotzei his obligation. Left
It By The Door– it is very common for people
to leave mishloach manos at the door when
none is home. In this situation if the recipient
plans on coming home before nightfall, the
sender has fulfilled his obligation. If One’s
Wife Accepted The Mishloach Manos– in
a situation where one’s wife accepted the
mishloach manos on behalf of her husband
the sender is only yotzei if the wife tells her
husband that he received mishloach manos
from this and this person. (In all the above
situations we are discussing if one is only
sending mishloach manos to one person).