Leading rabbis are calling the public to get back to basics and reduce their spending on elaborate mishloach manot, the treats that are traditionally exchanged on Purim. A proclamation signed by Sephardic rabbis, including Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Bakshi Doron, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, and others, requests that Jews “abstain from an unnecessary waste of sending mishloach manot ornamented with candies and delicacies, and to reduce as much as possible unnecessary expenses.”
“During this time, when we find ourselves in the most difficult economic period,” the rabbis proclaimed, “and the coin has disappeared from one’s purse, one should abstain from wasting money on mishloach manot in which their gifts are minor and their costs are great.” The rabbis urge the public to increase their spending on donations to the poor, which is also a mitzvah on Purim, as well as the rest of the year.
The commandment of sending mishloach manot is fulfilled by giving at least two ready-to-eat foods to one’s friend. The commandment of giving charity on Purim is fulfilled by giving a monetary gift, sufficient for one meal, to at least two poor people. Preceding the current rabbinical proclamation by over half a century, the Chafetz Chaim in his work on Jewish law, the Mishnah Berurah, wrote that it is preferable to spend more money in gifts for the poor than in spending money in mishloach manot.
The Purim holiday, which will be observed starting Monday night in most parts of the world, and on Tuesday night in Jerusalem and other walled cities, commemorates the Jews’ salvation from annihilation by the Persian Empire during the reign of King Achashveirosh.
Rabbinic commandments for Purim include the reading the saga (megillah) of the salvation of the Jews from a scroll, feasting on Purim day, exchanging edible gifts with friends, and giving charity.