משלוח מנות

1. There is an obligation on Purim to send two food items to one person or family, rich or poor.
2. Even a poor person is obligated in משלוח מנות.
3. A person who is sick, even in the hospital should still do this mitzva.
4. If two people send a gift in partnership, some say it does not count as the mitzva of משלוח מנות.
5. If one sends a gift and the recipient is not home, and will not come home before evening, he does not fulfill the mitzva.
6. Some opinions suggest sending the gift through a messenger, but certainly it is not essential to the mitzva. Using a more distinguished messenger enhances the mitzva.
7. Another opinion suggests using the children as messengers to encourage them to perform mitzvos.
8. One who sends the gift anonymously does not fulfill the mitzva.
9. The poskim imply that the mitzva really is to supply food for the seuda and therefore one should try to send it before the seuda.
10. If one sends the gift before Purim and it arrives on Purim there is a controversy if the mitzva has been fulfilled.
11. Children over bar mitzva age have their own obligation to send gifts. Before that age they should also be encouraged to send.
12. The quality of the food items should be equal to the prestige of the sender and the recipient.
13. Bottles of wine or other beverages are also considered as food items.
14. The purpose of משלוח מנות is to create an atmosphere of love and appreciation for one another. Certainly one should encourage friendship on Purim. The ספר פלא יועץ suggests sending the gifts to people with whom one might be having a feud, to encourage friendship.
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