Mishloach Manos Theme
Some people really put themselves out to put together themed mishloach manos. My daughters reported that a woman they saw in the candy store was very proud of having come up with wedding theme for hers. My daughter thought she was drawing on the fact that Esther married Achashverosh. But as that is not something Esther would have been happy about, I don't think it's an ideal Purim connection. Really mishloach manos are already "themed." They are meant to establish connections through sharing food, much like breaking bread together does. While we do not all gather together to establish that unity, sending off portions of food to be used in the celebratory meal of Purim is a way in which we join together. So there is the theme, and all the connections to movies, pirates, soldiers, or what have you is just shtick.
Shtick is OK, but it is only secondary to the essence of the mitzvah. I wonder at people who end up putting together mishloach manos that do not meet the halachic requirements because they are more concerned with putting out a cute package than an edible one. I once got a glass bowl filled with gumballs. It was set up in a way to look like a gumball machine. So, yes, it was cute. But gumballs may not count as food at all. Afterall, you are not supposed to swallow the gum. Water bottles, while commonly consumed, also may not count in a halachic way to make up mishloach manos.
Another thing that really amazes me is the number of pre-packed mishloach manos available. These are always beautifully arranged but often include very little to eat. You have to buy one of those premium baskets that cost $35 and up just to get something beyond some hard cookies, candies, and some groggers or masks thrown in. These started to go on sale last month already, so really only nonperishables would hold up. Personally, I prefer to offer something that could, at least in theory, be served at the seudah. And I find the little bottles of grapejuice that cost about half what a bottle that holds 3 times the volume costs to be rather pointless. The same holds for those tiny bottles of ketchup, mustard, etc. No one said that mishloach manos have to feature all dimunitive things. Even if you are designating one particular person as your recipient, s/he likely has a family to share with. And those single serve things work out to such astronmical amounts when you calculate what they cost per pound or ounce.
nyway, here is my modest proposal for a themed mishloach manos. While everyone else is giving out the candy that endangers teetch, someone can come up with a tooth-friendly mishloach manos. It can include carrots, celery, popcorn, and, possibly, chocolate, which can be beneficial to teeth. For a bit of cuteness, they can throw in a toothbrush -- more useful than the little plastic toys that accompany some fo the candies -- and even a little tube of toothpaste -- but remember that does not count as food. But my kids who insist that we really should be buying more candy for mishloach manos would not go for this.
Shtick is OK, but it is only secondary to the essence of the mitzvah. I wonder at people who end up putting together mishloach manos that do not meet the halachic requirements because they are more concerned with putting out a cute package than an edible one. I once got a glass bowl filled with gumballs. It was set up in a way to look like a gumball machine. So, yes, it was cute. But gumballs may not count as food at all. Afterall, you are not supposed to swallow the gum. Water bottles, while commonly consumed, also may not count in a halachic way to make up mishloach manos.
Another thing that really amazes me is the number of pre-packed mishloach manos available. These are always beautifully arranged but often include very little to eat. You have to buy one of those premium baskets that cost $35 and up just to get something beyond some hard cookies, candies, and some groggers or masks thrown in. These started to go on sale last month already, so really only nonperishables would hold up. Personally, I prefer to offer something that could, at least in theory, be served at the seudah. And I find the little bottles of grapejuice that cost about half what a bottle that holds 3 times the volume costs to be rather pointless. The same holds for those tiny bottles of ketchup, mustard, etc. No one said that mishloach manos have to feature all dimunitive things. Even if you are designating one particular person as your recipient, s/he likely has a family to share with. And those single serve things work out to such astronmical amounts when you calculate what they cost per pound or ounce.
nyway, here is my modest proposal for a themed mishloach manos. While everyone else is giving out the candy that endangers teetch, someone can come up with a tooth-friendly mishloach manos. It can include carrots, celery, popcorn, and, possibly, chocolate, which can be beneficial to teeth. For a bit of cuteness, they can throw in a toothbrush -- more useful than the little plastic toys that accompany some fo the candies -- and even a little tube of toothpaste -- but remember that does not count as food. But my kids who insist that we really should be buying more candy for mishloach manos would not go for this.
Comments
Serach, though, loves themes, and she and her sisters/mother spend hours discussing them and writing poems, etc. etc.
She enjoys it (especially the creative part) and since it usually ends up quite cheap [a "school" theme a couple years ago was PB&J and an apple juice in a brown paper bag], I figure why not?
"Take some healthy but inexpensive packaged snacks with hechsherim, put them in standard plastic goody bags from the party store, attach Avery self-stick labels conveying our home-laser-printed best wishes for Purim, and deliver them to friends Purim morning."
Works every time.
RAM, I like your sensible mishloach manos and wish that I could also limit my offerings to healthy choices. My kids absolutely insist on having candy for their mishloach manos, so I do buy some. But for our adult mishloach manos, I really try to stick with bottles of wine or grape juice (I always buy the full size) and actual food rather than lot of chazerai.