Page 265 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

ןנברמ אברוצ םירופ תוכלה · 263

Answer: It seems that they do not fulfill their obligation, for םעט הארנד ןהב םיאצוי ןיאד הארי :הבושת
it seems that the reason for the mitzva of mishloach manot יד דחא לכל אהיש ידכ אוה תונמ חולשמד
is so that people will have enough food to enjoy the Purim ארמגב עמשמדכ .אנידכ הדועסה םייקל קפסו
meal as required. This is implied from the Gemara in the first אנינח ברו ןיבא רב ייבאד ):ז הליגמ( אמק קרפ
chapter (Megilla 7b) “that Abaye bar Avin and Rav Chanina יקפנו ,ידדהב והייתודועס םיפלחמ ווה ןיבא רב
bar Avin would exchange their meals with each other,” and םושמ אמעטד אמלא .תונמ חולשמ יכהב
fulfilled their obligation of mishloach manot. We see from
this that the reason behind the mitzva is for the meal. .איה הדועס

However, Rav Shlomo Alkabetz (author of Lecha Dodi) writes in his sefer Manot HaLevi that the reason for
mishloach manot is to increase love and friendship between people.

a Manot HaLevi 9:21 אכ:ט | יולה תונמ . 43

And concerning [the reason for] the gifts… because through ולהקנ הוחאו תוערמ ידי לע יכ …תונמה ןינעבו
friendship and unity they gathered together and were saved, …בוט םוי םוקמבו ,תובבל דוריפב אל ,ולוצינו
not through the dividing of hearts. And instead of a festival… .םינויבאל תונתמ רזג
they decreed giving gifts to the poor.

According to this logic, one could seemingly fulfill one’s obligation by giving clothes or other items to
another, as these items also create friendship and unity.
As we saw, the Mishna Berura cited above as well as other poskim are stringent in accordance with the
18
opinion of the Terumat Hadeshen. The Yalkut Yosef adds that even giving money which could be used to
buy food is not valid.

p Yalkut Yosef, | ףסוי טוקלי . 44
Laws of Mishloach Manot 4 ’ד ףיעס ,תונמ חולשמ יניד

Even if one sends money to his friend in order that he be able לכויש ןפואב וריבחל תועמ חלושה וליפאו
to buy food with it, he does not fulfill his obligation, for one ךירצש ,ח”י אצוי וניא לכאמ תונמ םהב תונקל
specifically needs to send portions [manot] of food or drink. .התשמו לכאמ לש תונמ אקודב חולשל

18. It is interesting that although the Mishna Berura clearly requires prepared food for mishloach manot, he cited some who allowed giving
slaughtered meat that was not yet cooked. Perhaps this opinion holds that one may send uncooked food as long as one can potentially cook
or prepare it immediately and eat it shortly thereafter, it is considered as if it is prepared. This issue may be relevant with regard to whether one
may send foods that must be heated up first or have water added (e.g., instant soups) as mishloach manot. [Addition of the editors of the English
edition]

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