The following halacha was posted on http://dailyhalacha.com/ and written
by Rabbi Eli Mansour
To subscribe to receiving a daily halacha by email, click here .
"The observance of Purim entails several different Misvot, including the Megila reading, the Purim meal, Matanot La’ebyonim (gifts to the needy) and Mishlo’ah Manot (sending food packages to others).
The Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimonides, Spain-Egypt, 1135-1204), in Hilchot Megila (2:17), writes explicitly that the obligation of Matanot La’ebyonim takes priority over the other obligations of Purim (listen to audio for precise citation). He emphasizes that it is preferable to spend less on Mishlo’ah Manot and the Purim meal in order to increase one’s spending on Matanot La’ebyonim. There is no greater joy, the Rambam writes, then helping the needy, bringing joy to their hearts and lifting their downtrodden spirits. One who does so, the Rambam adds, follows the example of the Almighty Himself, who revives lowly spirits and brings hope to those in despair.
The Maggid Mishne commentary makes the following brief remark on the Rambam’s comments: “The words of our Rabbi are worthy of him.” Meaning, the Rambam, who worked as a caring and devoted physician, understood as well as anyone the importance and significance of helping those in need and lifting their spirits. Having spent many hours a day treating ailing patients, the Rambam personally exemplified the value of kindness to other people, and his example is reflected in his ruling concerning Matanot La’ebyonim.
Unfortunately, many people fail to abide by this important Halacha. The practice has evolved for parents to prepare Mishlo’ah Manot packages for each of their children’s twenty-some-odd friends, and spend large sums of money on unnecessary snacks and candy, most of which usually goes to waste. Of course, Mishlo’ah Manot is also a Misva, and one must give gifts to some friends on Purim. But, as the Rambam so forcefully emphasized, we must give priority to Matanot La’ebyonim, to supporting people in need and the organizations who help them. It is therefore proper to limit one’s spending on Mishlo’ah Manot packages and to use the money instead to help the underprivileged.
This is particularly so this year, when, unfortunately, so many people both in our community and elsewhere are experiencing financial hardship and finding it difficult to cover even their most basic expenses. What a shame it would be under current conditions to spend money on unnecessary food products that would go to waste, instead of using those funds to donate to the many charitable organizations that desperately need our help. In my family, it was decided that this year, instead of sending Mishlo’ah Manot to all my children’s friends, we will instead make donations to worthy causes and send the friends cards informing them that a donation has been made in their honor. This way, we not only fulfill the Rambam’s directive to prioritize Matanot La’ebyonim, but also teach our children this valuable lesson in proper priorities.
One should not be afraid of being a “trend setter” in this regard. Even if one feels that his friends anticipate costly, lavish Mishlo’ah Manot packages, he should nevertheless endeavor to set the trend among his peers of cutting back on Mishlo’ah Manot in favor of Matanot La’ebyonim.
The needy and underprivileged are God’s children. If we show our care, concern and compassion for the Almighty’s children, then He will, in turn, bless us and our children with much health, happiness and success."
by Rabbi Eli Mansour
To subscribe to receiving a daily halacha by email, click here .
"The observance of Purim entails several different Misvot, including the Megila reading, the Purim meal, Matanot La’ebyonim (gifts to the needy) and Mishlo’ah Manot (sending food packages to others).
The Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimonides, Spain-Egypt, 1135-1204), in Hilchot Megila (2:17), writes explicitly that the obligation of Matanot La’ebyonim takes priority over the other obligations of Purim (listen to audio for precise citation). He emphasizes that it is preferable to spend less on Mishlo’ah Manot and the Purim meal in order to increase one’s spending on Matanot La’ebyonim. There is no greater joy, the Rambam writes, then helping the needy, bringing joy to their hearts and lifting their downtrodden spirits. One who does so, the Rambam adds, follows the example of the Almighty Himself, who revives lowly spirits and brings hope to those in despair.
The Maggid Mishne commentary makes the following brief remark on the Rambam’s comments: “The words of our Rabbi are worthy of him.” Meaning, the Rambam, who worked as a caring and devoted physician, understood as well as anyone the importance and significance of helping those in need and lifting their spirits. Having spent many hours a day treating ailing patients, the Rambam personally exemplified the value of kindness to other people, and his example is reflected in his ruling concerning Matanot La’ebyonim.
Unfortunately, many people fail to abide by this important Halacha. The practice has evolved for parents to prepare Mishlo’ah Manot packages for each of their children’s twenty-some-odd friends, and spend large sums of money on unnecessary snacks and candy, most of which usually goes to waste. Of course, Mishlo’ah Manot is also a Misva, and one must give gifts to some friends on Purim. But, as the Rambam so forcefully emphasized, we must give priority to Matanot La’ebyonim, to supporting people in need and the organizations who help them. It is therefore proper to limit one’s spending on Mishlo’ah Manot packages and to use the money instead to help the underprivileged.
This is particularly so this year, when, unfortunately, so many people both in our community and elsewhere are experiencing financial hardship and finding it difficult to cover even their most basic expenses. What a shame it would be under current conditions to spend money on unnecessary food products that would go to waste, instead of using those funds to donate to the many charitable organizations that desperately need our help. In my family, it was decided that this year, instead of sending Mishlo’ah Manot to all my children’s friends, we will instead make donations to worthy causes and send the friends cards informing them that a donation has been made in their honor. This way, we not only fulfill the Rambam’s directive to prioritize Matanot La’ebyonim, but also teach our children this valuable lesson in proper priorities.
One should not be afraid of being a “trend setter” in this regard. Even if one feels that his friends anticipate costly, lavish Mishlo’ah Manot packages, he should nevertheless endeavor to set the trend among his peers of cutting back on Mishlo’ah Manot in favor of Matanot La’ebyonim.
The needy and underprivileged are God’s children. If we show our care, concern and compassion for the Almighty’s children, then He will, in turn, bless us and our children with much health, happiness and success."
I agree with you. The giving of mishloach manos has become overblown. Particularly with the economic downturn, people should increase giving to the needy, rather than spend their money on needless nosh.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Mishloach Manot has become commercialized and that prices of extravagant baskets can be pretty high. At the same time , if one can afford to and wishes to purchase a lavish basket , why stop him/her. First of all , it generates profit to the store owners (and perhaps the dentists too) and helps them with parnassah.
ReplyDeleteSecondly ,the argument that one should instead increase his/her Matanot Laevyonim can be applied to many areas in life. Why buy an expensive suit or car or ... , buy a cheaper model and give tzedaka instead. I'm convinced that whoever cannot afford these expensive baskets will not buy them. As to those who can and wish to , why refuse them the right to do so?
Devorah is correct in pointing out that when prioritizing between the 2 primary mitzvot of mishloach manot and matanot laevyonim, in today's economic environment one should dedicate the lion's share to the latter.
ReplyDeleteThis will bring much simcha to those in greatest need and will find favor in the eyes of the creator.
Devorah's keen sense of rectitude shines through once again!
@ Nechemia and Devorah ,
ReplyDeleteYou may be right that giving more Matanot Leavyonim might be the right and moral thing to do. However , as the idiom goes , What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Thus , why only bemoan the expensive Mishloach Manot? By the same logic , any big expenditure should be frowned on , e.g. costly vacations , clothes , et al. And if those expenses are considered OK , why single out MM?
Jeff raises a knotty issue, i.e. how to allocate ones finite resources between personal expenditures and larger altruistic communal interests. The Torah provides guidelines for this; minimally one must donate maaser, a tenth of ones income to charity, and yet is enjoined from donating more than 20% - "al yevazvez yoser m'chomesh."
ReplyDeleteThere is a valid rationale for this limitation rooted in a recognition of basic human nature, namely, if people would be required to give away more than this amount, the motivation to earn more money would be stifled and the net amount given to charity might actually decrease. Communism failed on this basis. Accordingly, people must be given great latitude in choosing how to spend their earnings.
Nevertheless, when one is already spending money, ostensibly, for a dvar mitzvah which is inherently altruistic and is intended to benefit another, it seems sensible and even morally compelling that one does so in a manner that will yield the greatest good and not be wasted on frivolous extravagance.
I realize there is further room for debate but I hope the above reasoning resonates somewhat with your yearning for essential truth.
In the final analysis, Devorah's intuitive sense of holiness should serve as our guidepost in navigating the difficult issues facing us in these trying times.