Mishloach Manos and Matanos l'Evyonim
The Rambam (Hilchos Megillah 2:17) writes, "It is better to give a lot of matanos l'evyonim than to increase the Purim meal and to spend on additional mishloach manos to friends because there is no greater and more beautiful joy than to bring joy to the hearts of the poor, the orphaned, widows, and geirim. When one brings them happiness, he acts similar to the Shechinah, as it states (Yeshayah 57:15) נדכאים לב ולהחיות שפלים רוח להחיות, "to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the crushed."
And in this generation, who isn't "humble" and "crushed"? Who doesn't need a kind word? When one can't help with money, he should give a friendly word or a smile.
18. We say in Shemonah Esrei תיםמ החיותל תהא נאמןו, "You are trustworthy to resurrect the dead." The Imrei Noam (Rosh Chodesh Adar) teaches, that the first letters are roshei teivos for לרעהו איש מנות ומשלוח. The final letters spell מתנה. This hints at the two mitzvos of Purim, mishloach manos and matanos l'evyonim. These mitzvos have the power to resurrect the dead.
On Purim, Hashem gives Yidden the power to resurrect the dead. This also applies to refuos, which are, in a smaller form, a resurrection. Chazal (Megillah 7b) tell us that once, on Purim, due to drinking, Rabba killed Reb Zeirah. The next day, Rabba davened for Reb Zeirah and resurrected him. This is an indication that Purim has the ability to resurrect the dead and to bring refuos.
Imrei Noam writes that with the mitzvos of mishloach manos and matanos l'evyonim, it is possible to annul 903 types of illnesses that were created in the world (see Brachos 8a). These mitzvos grant life, and people are saved from death, r'l.
Rebbe Mordechai Shlomo of Boyan zt'l quoted the Yerushalmi (Rosh Hashanah 1:3) that says that Hakadosh Baruch Hu keeps the Torah. This means that Hashem also performs the mitzvos of mishloach manos and matanos l'evyonim. Now, if Klal Yisrael are worthy and they deserve that Hashem grant them goodness, the goodness Hashem gives them isn't called a matanah, a gift. They are receiving what they deserve. It is a matanah, a gift, when they don't deserve to receive, and Hashem gives them anyway, as a gift.
Reb Mordechai Shlomo concluded with a tefillah, "So, may Hashem give you matanos l'evyonim, ומזוני חיי בני, children, health and parnassah."
19. Reb Moshe Feinstein zt'l taught on the pasuk (Bamidbar 9:7) נגרע למה that a person should always do what he can. And if he can't do something in its ideal form, he should do what he can.
Reb Motel Slonimer zt'l brought mishloach manos to the Bilgoray Rav zt'l, and the rav replied, "I don't have anything in the house to give back.” He showed him his son (the Belzer Rebbe Shlita) in the crib and said, "This is what Hashem gave me." This is because a person must always try to give and do whatever he can.
20. A person fell into the tracks at a subway station in New York. A train would come speeding down at any moment, and there would be nowhere to escape. People stared down in horror, not knowing what to do.
A simple person jumped down, lifted the man off the tracks, and somehow carried him back to the platform, just moments before a train came speeding down the tracks.
People rushed over to congratulate the hero, and the story made it onto the news. People praised him. "You saved a person’s life! That is a huge accomplishment!"
"I didn't do it to save a life," he replied. "I knew that if this man got hit by a train and died, there would be a delay of several hours, and I would miss hours of work and forfeit forty dollars. So, I jumped in to save him."
So, this person did the most extraordinary deed for forty dollars. He saved someone's life, but his intention was to earn forty dollars!
Let us ask ourselves if we don't make the same error. For example, a baalabusta is preparing and sending mishloach manos. She is doing a holy mitzvah. The rewards in both worlds will be enormous. She is creating a nachas ruach for Hashem! But if her primary intention is that the receiver should compliment her and say, "Wow! What a beautiful mishloach manos!" she is selling the most extraordinary deed for a mere compliment.
Or if a yungerman studies for a test to get a bonus on his kollel paycheck, he is doing a great deed, but his intention is for a few dollars.
Therefore, be wise and do mitzvos l'shmah.
Reb Mordechai of Nadvorna zt'l said in his later years, "Had I known in my younger years what Purim is, I would go from person to person to get smiles out of them."
One of the primary concepts of Mishloach Manos is to increase friendship. Pele Yoetz advises that important people (like roshei yeshivos) should give mishloach manos to simple people because it will give them great joy that someone so respected thought of them. He also advises that people who don’t get along should send mishloach manos to one another, as that will increase peace and remove barriers.