Mishloach manot (Hebrew: משלוח מנות [miʃˈlo.aχ maˈnot], literally, 'sending of portions'; also spelled and pronounced mishloach manos), or shalech mones (Yiddish: שלח־מנות Yiddish pronunciation: [ʃaləχmɔnəs]), and also called a Purim basket, are gifts of food or drink that are sent to family, friends and others on Purim day. The mitzvah of giving mishloach manot derives from the Book of Esther. It is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast held later in the day, and to increase love and friendship among Jews and their neighbors.
According to the halakha, every Jew over the age of Bar and Bat Mitzvah should send a food gift consisting of two different types of food to at least one recipient.[1] The practice is a fairly prominent feature of Purim.
In Israel, it is a fairly common practice to send mishloach manot to Israel Defense Forces soldiers; it is usually done by the relatives of said soldiers, though children also send mishloach manot often to unrelated soldiers.
- ^ Barclay, Rabbi Elozor; Jaeger, Rabbi Yitzchok (27 January 2004). "Laws of Mishloach Manot: In-depth laws for how to do the mitzvah correctly!". Aish.com. Retrieved 4 March 2012.