Purim in the 21st century brings to mind colorful costumes, live music, excited children, and, of course, lots and lots of nosh, cake, and candy for mishloach manos. Mishloach manos is one of the four mitzvos of the day of Purim, the others being hearing the megillah, eating a festive meal, and giving matanos l’evyonim. While so much has changed in the style of how this mitzvah is performed, the essence remains the same – sharing the joy and happiness of this merry Yom Tov.
In those days…
Mrs. Klara Steiner, a vibrant octogenarian (who also happens to be my dear Steiner Bobby!), grew up in Hungary before World War II. She recalls the mishloach manos they prepared: “We didn’t have much money, so the cakes my mother baked were quite simple – sponge cake, a coconut cake. She then hid them so they wouldn’t get eaten before Purim began! We put a few slices on a plate, covered them with a cloth, and sent the children to give them to the neighbors. There weren’t any disposable dishes in those days, so the recipient would take the slices and replace them with her offerings, which the kids brought back home for us to enjoy.”
But not everyone lived so simply. Mrs. Steiner would receive mishloach manos packages in the mail from her wealthy relatives in another town, and those were much fancier. “I remember the excitement when we got those packages from my cousins. They would send entire cakes, not just slices, and made with rich fillings and expensive ingredients.” But although the contents were exciting, the packaging was a non-issue, just as in simpler homes – it was just wrapped in paper and put in a box.
Reyna Simnegar, author of Persian Food from the Non-Persian Bride, says that sadly, many of the Persian mishloach manos customs are no longer practiced today. “The main part of a traditional Persian mishloach manot was halva, tied in little bundles and delivered to people’s doorsteps along with almonds or walnuts. Hamentashen, which are an Ashkenazi invention, were never part of the Persian tradition.”
“The Syrian tradition was to prepare ma’moul, a marshmallow-dipped, nut-stuffed pastry, and kra’bij, a nut-stuffed pastry baked in a distinctive pan, for Purim,” says Poopa Dweck, author of Aromas of Aleppo and recognized expert on Syrian-Jewish cooking and food customs. “These were eaten at the meal, and also distributed for mishloach manot.” Marlene Mamiye, founder of the popular blog thejewishhostess.com, says she was surprised when she learned that in Syria, the adults would just pass around Syrian pastries such as samboosak and graybeh to their neighbors. It wasn’t the kids’ holiday we associate Purim with today. “The big holiday for Jewish kids in Syria was actually Tu B’shvat, where the kids received gifts of fruits in hand-sewn velvet bags. Since fruits such as pineapple and peaches were never seen in Syria, the kids really treasured them.”
The mishloach manos of times gone by were sometimes simple and sometimes elaborate, but the main focus was on the preparation of the delicious food they contained. Today, more time is spent on the presentation of the gift, including a unique container, tissue paper or shredded, cellophane or shrink-wrap, and ribbon. Stores that sell essential mishloach manos supplies are packed in the weeks before Purim, with lines snaking out the door.
To Theme Or Not To Theme
Themed mishloach manos have also become quite popular, usually matching the family’s costumes. Some consider it excessive, and it’s hard to imagine Disney-themed mishloach manos in Budapest, Shiraz or Aleppo of yesteryear, but many find a theme makes the preparation easier. When you are limited by a theme, it narrows your options a bit, and may even save you money. You normally wouldn’t think of just sending a fruit and bottled water, but if your theme is health, it suddenly seems cute.
