Weekly Letter: Mattonos L’evyonim or Shalach Manot

In honor of the holiday of Purim we present a letter from the Rebbe on the importance of mattonos l’evyonim – as the Rambam rules that it is preferable to spend more on this mitzvah than mishloach manos and the se’uda, and its connection to Nissan – the month of redemption. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

By the Grace of G-d

18th Adar II, 5738

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Torah Action Committee

New York, N.Y.

Blessing and Greeting:

This is to acknowledge receipt   of your kind contribution to Matanos L’Evyonim. May the zechus of this great mitzvah stand you and all the contributors in good stead to receive G-d’s blessings in all your needs.

Especially in light of the  Rambam’s enunciation of this great mitzvah – though Purim has also the mitzvos of Mishloach Monos and the Se’udah:

מוטב לאדם להרבות במתנות לאביונים מלהרבות בסעודתו ובמשלוח מנות לרעיו, שאין שמחה גדולה ומפוארה אלא לשמח לב אביונים ויתומים ואלמנות וגרים, שהמשמח לב האומללים האלה דומה לשכינה. שנאמר להחיות רוח שפלים ולהחיות לב נדכאים. (סיום הל’ מגילה).

And if these words are significant for every Jew, how much more so for Jewish daughters,whom G-d has blessed and privileged to be an Akeres Ha’bayis to permeate the whole household and future generations with the true spirit of Torah and mitzvos.

The mitzvah of tzedoko on Purim also has a bearing on the ge’ula of the month of Nissan which is connected to tzedoko, as our Sages declared,

בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין להיגאל, גדולה צדקה שמקרבת את הגאולה.

Wishing each and all of you Hatzlocho to advance from strength to strength in all matters of Torah and mitzvos and in all you needs, materially and spiritually.

With blessing,

***

The above letter is from The Letter and the Spirit by Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP).

These letters were written originally in English and were prepared for publication by Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel, whose responsibility it was the Rebbe’s correspondence in English and several other languages.

We thank Rabbi Shalom Ber Schapiro, who was entrusted by his father-in-law Rabbi Mindel with his archives and who is Director of the Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP), for making the Rebbe’s letters available to the wider public. May the merit of the many stand him in good stead.