Matanot L'evyonim - Gifts to the Needy

(15) And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand. (16) And the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hated them seventy and five thousand—but on the spoil they laid not their hand—. (17) on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. (18) But the Jews that were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness and they ate. (19) Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day (Holiday?), and of sending portions one to another. (20) And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, (21) to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, (22) the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and 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 one to another, and gifts to the needy.

(4) However, there shall be no needy among you—for HaShem will surely bless thee in the land which HaShem, your God gives you as an inheritance to possess it—

(11) For there will never cease to be needy within the land. Therefore, I command you, saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your poor one, and to your needy one in your land

There are eight names for a poor person: ani, evyon, misken, rash, dal, dach, mach, helech:

Ani [afflicted] means literally “poor”

Evyon [one who longs] because he longs (mita’ev) for everything

Misken [despised] because he is despised by all as it says “The poor man’s (misken) wisdom is despised.” (Eccl 9:16)

Rash [impoverished] because he is dispossessed (mitroshesh) of property

Dal [detached] because he is detached (meduldal) from property

Dach [oppressed] because he is crushed (meduchdach); he sees a thing but cannot eat it, he sees a thing and cannot taste it, and cannot drink it

Mach [trampled upon] because he is lowly before everyone, like a kind of lowest threshold.

Helech [vagrant] or Chelech [weak]

(6) and to the sons of the concubines, that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts...

1) Every person must give at least two gifts to two poor persons. (Moshe Isserles, [author of "ha Mapa" - "the Tablecloth" a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch]: Some say that, before Purim, one should give one-half of the established coin [the monetary unit] of that place and time, in memory of the half-shekel that they would give in Adar, and, since "trumah" is mentioned three times in the section, one should give three [such coins]. (Mordechai, beginning of Yoma ch.1). And one should give it on the night of Purim, before davening minha (Maharil), and such is the practice in all of these states, and one should give give three large halves (? meaning not clear) in these states, since there is no coin called a "half" other than this one. And in the states of Austria [Austria-Hungary?], one should give three half-vieners, which are also called "halves," and likewise in each state. And only one who is 20 years old is obligated to give. And some say that one gives a half-shekel to tz'dakah in addition to these three halves, but that is not the practice.)

2. We do not convert Purim funds into a different kind of tz'dakah. Isserles: This applies specifically to the gabbaim. (Mordechai, ch. 1 of Bava Batra.) But the poor person may do with it what he wishes.

3. We are are not punctilious regarding [the giving] of Purim funds; rather, we give to anyone who puts out his hand. And in a place where it is customary to give even to Gentiles, one gives.

4. In a place where there are no poor persons, one may hold on to the funds oneself and give them in a place of one's choosing. Isserles: It is a mitzva to multiply the Purim meal (Tur) but one can fulfill the obligation through a single meal (Mordechai, end of ch. 1).

(Thanks to Richard Friedman for translations)

(4) One must send to his fellow two portions of meat, or foodstuffs, as it says (Esther 9:19) "And send portions, man to his fellow." Two portions to one man [is the obligation]. And anyone who send more to his fellows is praiseworthy. If he has none, he can trade with his fellow, this one sending to that one his meal, and this one sending to that one his meal, so that they can fulfill "And send portions, man to his fellow." Rama: And some send the portions during the day and not at night (from the Rosh, first chapter of [Bavli] Megilla). And if one sends portions to his fellow, but he doesn't want to accept them, or he forgives him [his obligation], he fulfills [his obligation nonetheless]. And a woman is obligated in [sending] portions to the destitute and sending portions [to one's fellows] like a man is. A woman sends to a woman, a man to a man. But not the other way, so that a man does not come to send it to a widow, and it will come to a possibility of kiddushin [having been enacted]. But portions to the destitute one should not worry [about this possibility].

(15) What is the nature of our obligation for this feast? A person should eat meat and prepare as attractive a feast as his means permit. He should drink wine until he becomes intoxicated and falls asleep in his intoxication. And similarly a a person is obligated to send two portions of meat or two types of cooked food or two types of food to his friend, as it says (Esther 9:22) "and send portions one man to another" two portions to one man. And all that increase to send to others is praiseworthy. And if he has no [money] he should exchange with his friend: this one sends to this his meal and this one sends to this his meal in order to fulfill (Esther 9:22) "and send portions one man to another".

(16) One is obligated to give to poor people on the day of Purim. One should give no less than two poor people one gift each of money or types of cooked dishes or types of food, as it says (Esther 9:22) "gifts to the poor": two gifts to poor people. And one should not be particular about Purim money, rather give to every person who puts out his hand. And one should not change Purim money for another charity. (BM 78b)

(17) It is good for people to increase in their gifts to the poor more than they increase in their meal and the gifts that they send to their companions, for there is no greater or glorious joy than to bring happiness to the hearts of the poor and orphans and widows and strangers, for he who brings happiness to the hearts of these unfortunate people is compared to the Divine Presence, as it says, "To revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15).

(18) How [does one make everyone happy appropriately]? Give the children nuts and candy, and buy the women as much nice clothing and jewelry as he can afford. And the men eat meat and drink wine since there is no happiness without meat and wine. And when [the head of household] eats and drinks, he is obligated to feed strangers, orphans and widows as well as all other poor people. However, if he locks his doors and eats and drinks with his family and does not feed the poor and others going through hard times, this is not the joy which was commanded, but [merely] satisfying his stomach. About such people, it is said "There sacrifices are like the bread of mourners, all who eat it will be contaminated for their bread is for their own appetites." Such parties are disgraceful to those who participate in them as it says "I will spread dung on your faces, the dung of your festival [sacrificial meals]"

(4) Wealth adds many friends; But a poor man is separated from his friends.

(6) The great will beg the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.