Introduction to Mishloach Manos

2. Introduction to Mishloach Manos • Why do we have two separate mitzvos of Mishloach Manos and Matans L’evyonim, what do they accomplish differently, that we need two separate mitzvos? • The Bach (R’ Moshe Isserlin, Poland, 1400’s) explained; at the end of the Purim story the Jews were saved and two things were presented to Mordechai symbolizing the two aspects of the miracle: • 1) The “home” and title of Haman • 2)The signet ring and promise that the Jews would not be hurt

3. The gift of Haman’s estate represents the personal physical simcha that one feels when receiving something great that makes you fell important. This was a great personal honor for Mordechai. It’s a celebration of one man to another. The gift of the signet ring and the promise that the Jews would not be hurt represents the increased glory of Hashem in this world that His nation was not wiped out and a “miracle” occurred to them. It’s a celebration of service and glorification of Hashem The difference between the two presents

4. In order to celebrate the simcha of Mordechai, we celebrate and join in the sudah with our fellow man. Therefore we give food presents inorder to increase simcha. In order to celebrate the glory of Hashem and the giving of the ring, we continue to increase the glory of Hashem in this world by giving more tzedakah out, and not just more to one person, but rather to as many people as possible The difference between Mishloach Manos and Matans L’evyonim

5. If Purim falls out on Shabbos, we read the Megilla on Thursday night and Friday morning, but have the seudah on Sunday. We give out Mishloach Manos on Sunday as well in order to increase the simcha of the seudah and the day However, we give out the Matanas L’evyonim on Friday when we read the Megilla because the point of the megilla is to spread the glory of Hashem (instead of Hallel). So we add to that glory by giving out tzedakah to as many people as possible. Practical difference between these two approaches

6. Why did Mordechai decree we should give Mishloach Manos?? First Opinion: Terumas Hadeshen He holds the reason is in order to make sure everyone has food for a proper seudah. Question on the Terumas Hadeshen: Why do we give mishloach manos to everyone, why don’t we just give to poor people? Chasam Sofer answers that since it I public, we don’t want to embarris anybody.

7. Why did Mordechai decree we should give Mishloach Manos?? In order to increase the simcha and love around Klal Yisrael we give everybody food presents. 2nd opinion: Manos Levi (R’ Shlomo Alkabetz, author of Lecha Dodi)

8. What are the practical differences between the two opinions?? Case #1: What kind of food should be given as Mishloach Manos? Terumas Hadeshen It must be real food that someone would eat at a seudah. Ex: Fish, meat, bread, kugel etc.. Manos Levi It can be any kind of food because it is only to increase love and friendship

9. What are the practical differences between the two opinions?? Case #2: If Reuven sends to Shimon, but Reuven forgets to sign his name Terumas Hadeshen Reuven is Yotzei because Shimon had the ability to use Reuven’s food for his seudah. Manos Levi Reuven is not Yotzei, because no love was spread to Shimon form Reuven

10. What are the practical differences between the two opinions?? Case #3: What if Reuven sends to Shimon, but Shimon hates Reuven and won’t accept it? Terumas Hadeshen Reuven is not Yotzei because he did not increase Shimon’s seudah. Manos Levi Reuven isYotzei, because he showed Shimon love and friendship even though Shimon didn’t accept it.

15. Rava): A person is obligated to become drunk on Purim until he cannot distinguish 'cursed is Haman' from 'blessed is Mordechai.' Rabah and R. Zeira ate their Purim Seudah together; Rabah got drunk and slaughtered R. Zeira. The next day he prayed, and restored him to life. The next year, Rabah invited R. Zeira to eat with him again. R. Zeira declined, because miracles do not always happen.

16. אמר רבא מיחייב איניש לבסומי בפוריא עד דלא ידע בין ארור המן לברוך מרדכי רבה ורבי זירא עבדו סעודת פורים בהדי הדדי איבסום קם רבה שחטיה לרבי זירא למחר בעי רחמי ואחייה לשנה אמר ליה ניתי מר ונעביד סעודת פורים בהדי הדדי אמר ליה לא בכל שעתא ושעתא מתרחיש ניסא

17. Iyun on the Daf RABAH SLAUGHTERED REBBI ZEIRA QUESTION: The Gemara relates that Rabah invited Rebbi Zeira to his Purim Se'udah. During the Se'udah, Rabah arose and slaughtered Rebbi Zeira. The next day, Rabah prayed to Hash-m to bring Rebbi Zeira back to life. What is the meaning of this narrative? How could the great and righteous Rabah kill another Amora? ANSWERS:(a) RAV YAKOV EMDEN explains that the Gemara says that a person may not fill his mouth with laughter in this world (Berachos 30b,). Rebbi Zeira there says that the more one refrains from rejoicing in this world, the more reward he will receive in the World to Come.

18. When Rabah conducted his Purim Se'udah, he saw that the party in his home was becoming too happy. He wanted to calm the excitement and transform the mood of those assembled to one of seriousness. He picked up a knife and swung it at the neck of Rebbi Zeira in an act that made it appear as though he was slaughtering Rebbi Zeira. Rebbi Zeira thought that Rabah seriously intended to kill him and he fainted from the shock. The fright was so great that he could have died had Rabah not prayed for him and revived him.

19. (b) The MAHARSHA writes that the Gemara does not mean that Rabah actually slaughtered Rebbi Zeira with a knife. Rather, the quantity of food and drink which Rabah gave to Rebbi Zeira was so great that he became deathly ill. Rabah wanted him to experience a sublime degree of Simchah and thus he encouraged Rebbi Zeira to continue drinking, until Rebbi Zeira's life was actually endangered. The next day Rabah prayed for Rebbi Zeira and he recovered.

20. The CHAVOS YA'IR (#152) suggests that different Amora'im had different approaches to serving Hash-m: • Rebbi Zeira maintained that fasting and self-affliction is the correct way to serve Hash-m and to achieve holiness. Indeed, Rebbi Zeira would fast for long periods of time, and he would test himself with various forms of self-affliction to assess his total devotion to Hash-m (Bava Metzia 85a). • Similarly, Rabah served Hash-m through the attribute of Simchah.

21. Rebbi Zeira,disagreed with Rabah's approach and maintained that one should serve Hash-m with seriousness. At his Purim Se'udah, Rabah saw that Rebbi Zeira was too serious and was not experiencing the Simchah of Purim sufficiently, and thus he insisted that Rebbi Zeira eat and drink more. • However, since he was accustomed to fasting (Bava Metzia 85a), was unhealthy for him it to eat so much and as a result he became deathly ill. Hence, Rabah needed to pray for Rebbi Zeira's recovery. (M. Kornfeld)

22. Taanis Esther? What is the source of this fast? In the Megillah (4:16), Esther agrees to see the king uninvited, and asks the Jewish People to fast for three days beforehand. Why did she call for a fast? • Because a fast helps to lower the volume on our physical pursuits in order to focus more acutely on our spiritual selves. This facilitates the process of "teshuva" -- literally "return." Esther called for a fast, knowing that through soul-searching the Jews would forge a spiritual connection necessary to make her mission successful. (And it paid off!) • This is not a fast of sadness. Rather, the purpose of the fast is elevation and inspiration.

23. Similarly, there was another fast during the Purim story: The Jews fasted and prayed on the 13th of Adar in preparation for their defense against Haman's decree. • The Torah prescribes that whenever a Jewish army goes to war, the soldiers should spend the previous day fasting. This is in stark contrast to a secular army which spends the day preparing weapons and armaments. • Additionally, the fact that we are physically weakened when the battle begins, assures us that any victory cannot be attributed to our physical prowess.

24. Mortals have limits, but God can achieve the impossible. (Case in point: the Six Day War.) As Mark Twain wrote, "All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?" • It is actually this one-day pre-battle fast that we commemorate every year before Purim. However, in honor of the Purim heroine, it is called Taanit Esther -- the Fast of Esther.