We have seen that there are 2 basic reasons for the mitzvah of mishloach manos: to provide food for the seuda, or to add to friendship. One nafka minah is if the receiver says “no thank you.” If the reason is to add to friendship, he fulfilled the mitzvah, but if the reason is to provide food for the seuda, he did not.
1) If Receiver Does Not Know Who Sent It
The Ksav Sofer points out another difference between the two reasons – in a case where the recipient is unaware of who sent the gift. This is quite common, as Purim finds everyone coming and going throughout the day. What happens if someone comes home and finds a mishloach manos by his door without a name on it. Once again this should depend on the reasons.
If the reason for giving mishloach manos is to provide food for the meal, the purpose has been accomplished, as he has received the food. However, if the reason for giving mishloach manos is to add to feelings of closeness and unity, since the person does not know who sent it, this feeling will not be there, and the mitzvah was not fulfilled.
The Mishne Halachos extends this to a similar case. What happens if the recipient was drunk when he received the mishloach manos, and was unaware of who sent the mishloach manos? Once again, if the reason is to provide food for the meal, the purpose has been accomplished, since he has food to eat. However, if the reason is to add to the closeness and unity, since the recipient is unaware of who sent it, this feeling of closeness and unity will not be created, and the mitzvah was not fulfilled.
2) Does It Make a Difference Who the Receiver Is?
The Biur Halacha quotes the Chayei Adam who rules – based on a Yerushalmi and the Ritva – that the type of mishloach manos a person sends should depend on the position and status of the recipient. If the recipient is a wealthy man and expects a more prestigious gift, a small and insignificant mishloach manos will not suffice. But, as the Biur Halacha points out, the other poskim do not mention this and seemingly disagree. He concludes that since there is a machlokes, one should try to be careful to send the appropriate mishloach manos.
What is the basis for this machlokes? Once again, this may depend on the aforementioned reasons. If the reason is to provide food for the meal, the purpose has been accomplished, regardless of who the recipient is. However, if the reason is to add to closeness and unity, since he does not appreciate what you gave, this feeling will not be there, and the mitzvah was not fulfilled.
Summary
There are 2 basic reasons for the mitzvah of mishloach manos: to provide food for the seuda, or to add to the friendship. A possible nafka minah will be if the receiver does not know who sent it, and if a person has to give a prestigious person a more elaborate mishloach manos. If the reason is to provide food for the seuda, he has done so, but if the reason is to add to friendship, he has not fulfilled the mitzvah.
by Rabbi Nachum Scheiner, Night Kollel & Morning Kollel
