14

From here:

Every adult is required to send on the day of Purim at least two ready to eat food items to at least one friend.

Is this requirement dependent on the sender or the recipient?

In other words, if the recipient cannot eat the food sent to him, has the sender fulfilled his obligation?

  • For example, if the recipient is allergic to peanuts, and the Mishloach Manot consists of peanuts, has the sender fulfilled his obligation (since the food was ready to eat). Or, has the sender not fulfilled his obligation, because the food cannot be eaten by the recipient, and one of the reasons for Mishloach Manot is to ensure everyone has something to eat to celebrate the holiday.

  • What if the sender is allergic to peanuts?

  • What if the sender and the recipient have different standards of Kashrut, and the recipient doesn't eat something that the sender sent him (although the sender himself does eat it).

  • What if the two items cannot be eaten together. For example, a block of 6 hour cheese and a piece of meat?

This may possibly indicate that the obligation is indeed dependent on the recipient, although one might argue that in this case, it is no good because it was never received, not because the recipient wasn't able to consume it:

If one sends Mishloach Manot to another individual and the recipient is not home and does not receive it until after Purim, that gift can not be considered as Mishloach Manot.

1

1 Answer 1

3

There is no consenus on this matter, and there isn't even concensus on the basics of your question.

It would seem that according to some, even raw meat, which the Mishna says is not allowed, is allowed by some people, because it can still be cooked before the Seudah.

Based on the answer linked above, it seems to suggest that any food whatsoever is allowed, based on some excuse one or the other.

However, those who do not allow Raw meat to be given, as is the common method of teaching about mishloach manot, do not care if the sender or receipient would eat the meat raw or not. It's the status of the food that is important.

5
  • 5
    Can you provide a source?
    – Double AA
    Mar 4, 2012 at 20:01
  • @DoubleAA Nobody allows you to ever give raw meat.
    – avi
    Mar 5, 2012 at 8:03
  • 1
    Even to Bavliim?
    – Double AA
    Mar 5, 2012 at 8:11
  • @DoubleAA I stand corrected. Apparently some people do allow you to send Raw meat, because it can be cooked... Which just baffles me! halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDisplayRead.asp?readID=2448
    – avi
    Mar 5, 2012 at 8:15
  • Can you edit in which mishna you refer to?
    – Double AA
    Mar 5, 2012 at 14:10

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .