This Ritual Life Archive

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Here you will find out about ways to enhance your holiday experience, to celebrate or mark a meaningful life cycle event, and to deepen your experience of the everyday. Our authors are especially interested in hearing your responses to what they have written. So after reading, visit the Ritual Life discussion forum where you can join in conversation with CLAL faculty and other readers.

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Preparing Mishloach Manot

As a child, I remember going to synagogue on Purim dressed in a crazy costume to hear the Megillah reading, and I remember receiving mishloach manot, plates or baskets of treats from friends. What a perfect holiday for kids-we got to eat all sorts of cakes, candies, fruits and, of course, hamentashen. As I got older, I realized how mishloach manot (some call it shalach mones in Yiddish) was taking on new meaning. It has become more important to me to give mishloach manot than to receive. It's about the joy of giving, the pleasure of making the packages, deciding on the right food for the right person, keeping in mind their food preferences and food allergies. It's like taking the time to find the perfect birthday gift for a friend, an effort which expresses our special connection.

MEDITATION

May I prepare and give these gifts with a full and open heart. May we be blessed on Purim and on each day of our lives with light, gladness and honor and with the gift to express our friendship.

RITUAL

For Purim, prepare plates or baskets of mishloach manot for at least one friend. You'll want to include a variety of ready-to-eat foods, such as a fruit, a cake, nuts or a bottle of juice or wine. Involve family members in planning, preparing, decorating and delivering the mishloach manot to friends, neighbors and to people in hospitals or nursing homes. If many of the people you know are unfamiliar with this ritual, include a note explaining what it's all about and what it means to you. Let them know that one way we celebrate Purim is by celebrating our friendships with tasty gifts. Next Purim, don't be surprised to find mishloach manot baskets on your doorstep.

BLESSING

(As you begin to prepare your mishloach manot)

Bless us and all people with joy, gladness and friendship.

TEACHING

The month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions to one another, and gifts to the poor. (Megillat Esther 9:22)

"No true Jewish simcha is complete unless it is shared with friends and with the needy…." (Rabbi Irving Greenberg, The Jewish Way)

Sending Baskets

If we can only weave these fragile reeds together
The bulrushes will be a basket,
The papyrus will be parchment,
The days will be stories….
If we can take
What is random-our lot,
And make it our portion.
Then we will hold ourselves
As we were held at birth
In cradles and bassinets-
As things of light and joy,
As gifts.
(Tamar Stern)

Chaverim kol yisrael

The fellowship of the entire people Israel

(CLAL faculty)

CLAL's National Jewish Resource Center develops and publishes rituals that help to bridge the gap between our contemporary lives and the ancient wisdom of the Jewish tradition.