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ןנברמ אברוצ םירופ תוכלה · 265
The Mishna Berura rules according to the Ritva, in which case it would seem that one may give a very small
amount of money to each poor person. However it is appropriate if possible to be stringent in accordance
with the second opinion that one must give the amount needed to buy a meal, which is also not an exorbitant
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amount. In fact, Rav Shmuel Wosner is quoted as saying that ten shekels (in Israeli currency) is definitely
enough (for each poor person), as one can buy a felafel sandwich with this amount (Dirshu edition of the
Mishna Berura, Siman 695, note #5).
The Time for Giving Matanot La’evyonim
The Pri Megadim writes that in order to properly fulfill this mitzva, the recipient must be capable of benefiting
from the gift on Purim day itself, as is quoted by the Mishna Berura.
a Mishna Berura 694:2 ב:דצרת | הרורב הנשמ . 48
The Pri Megadim writes further: It seems to me that ideally one ךירצ הלחתכלד ,יל הארנ :ג”מפה בתכ דוע
needs to give the poor person something that he will benefit from םירופב ונממ תונהיל יוארה רבד ןויבאל ןתיל
on the day, either food or money that he can spend on the day. :םירופב איצוהל לכויש תועמ וא לכאמ
The Biur Halacha clarifies this further.
a Biur Halacha, ibid. םש | הכלה רואיב . 49
To two poor people – One should not give it to them before םירופ םדוק םהל ןתי אלו – םיינע ינשל
Purim, as perhaps they will eat it before Purim (Magen Avraham םשב א”מ[ םירופ םדוק והל ילכא אמלד
citing the Ba’al Hamaor). And [with regard to] the common ףא םירופ םדוק ןתיל םלועה גהנמו ]רואמה
custom to give before Purim even though the mitzva of gifts to םירופ םויב אקוד ותוצמ םינויבאל תונתמד
the poor is specifically on Purim day, we must say that people give םג םינויבאל תונתמ יתש ןתונ כ”עד ל”צ
two gifts on Purim itself as well. In addition, there are many poor לע םירזוחה םיינע הברה שי םגו םירופ םויב
who knock on the door on Purim itself (Machazit Hashekel).
:]לקשה תיצחמ[ םירופב םיחתפה
Even if one accepts the opinion of the Biur Halacha, it is unclear whether one may give the money before
Purim if the recipient receives it on Purim itself, a very common scenario today, as many tzedaka organizations
dispense money for matanot la’evyonim based on donations given by credit card prior to Purim. The same
question applies to mishloach manot as well.
The Be’er Heitev (695:7) cites the Yad Aharon who holds that one fulfills the mitzva if the recipient receives
it on Purim. However, the Aruch HaShulchan disagrees and holds that the determining factor is not when it
was received, but when it was sent:
19. There a number of reasons for this. First, since it is not difficult for most people to spend this amount, it is preferable to fulfill the mitzva according
to all opinions, especially since giving additional tzedaka is worthwhile on its own. Second, a number of Acharonim do follow this opinion,
including the Kaf Hachaim and Ben Ish Chai. Third, one can no longer purchase anything with the value of a peruta, which is approximately a
few cents, or a few agurot in Israeli currency, so it is questionable whether one really fulfills one’s obligation with this amount today. See Peninei
Halacha p. 334 and footnote #1 there; Piskei Teshuvot 694, #6.
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