some people don't want a lot of junk or chametz. some people prefer things that are boxed with hechsherim, other people prefer homemade goods or something that can be used at the meal.
then there are the themes, but that's for another thread. there are also purim cards - for those who prefer no junk or chametz, would you rather those instead?
also, considering that this year purim is erev shabbos, does that make a difference in what you want?

what do you prefer people send you?

Chocolate!

I'd rather not get a bag full of low class junk.

The best things are:

Stuff to drink on Shabbos
Good quality chocolate
homemade stuff !!!!

I love homemade hamentaschen. No worry about the hametz, as they won't last very long.

Next up is homemade non-sweets for the mishte table. Salads, pickles, homemade bread stuff, especially Sephardi bread stuff like homemade melawah, kubane, and frikasse.

Next would be pizza delivered.

Next would be wine.

Candies that are not chocolate go straight into the garbage (at least one rav in town holds that the stuff isn't food, therefore cannot be considered ba'al tashchit) or are recycled out the door.

I don't like getting weird Israel candy you never see the rest of the year. Anything else is pretty good.

I think mishlochei manot is not a word, and should never be used b'farhesia.

it is according to my truth.

Order of preference:

1) Beer

2) Candy bars

3) Baked goods (please no disgusting mun hamentashen)

4) Potato chips bags

5) Pretzel bags

Purim is a time for fun. Fruit should be avoided if possible. That said, I plan to send out cards this year. Friday afternoon is not the time to be running around.

I, personally, like small snack bags.
My husband likes chocolate/home baked goodies/apple chips.
My kids like anything they're not usually given to eat.

But, I think in general, we prefer things that are sealed with a hechsher - snack, drink*, etc. And can be stored, no need to eat right away.

*If it's coke/sprite, doesn't need a hechsher. I'm talking grape juice, apple juice, etc.

So if I sent you homemade hamentashen, would you eat them?

She'd send them to me .

i think people waste their time sending baked goods to people they're only semi-friendly with. not only do people worry unnecessarily about hechsherim, but most of the time, the baked goods do not survive delivery.

i think this is a great idea for a MM. healthy, delicious, and beautiful. can even be served at the seuda or saved for shabbos. no, i don't work for them.

I don't mind weird Israeli candies- just curious about the Mexican and Argentinian ones that are only available for Purim.

No. (I also don't really like hamantashen at all. The jelly is too central and too much dough without any jelly. Sufganiyot are better because they spread the jelly more evenly throughout the item.)

What are Su######niyot?

sufniyot are the jelly donuts we eat on Chanukah and I have no idea how this spam filter got annoyed by that word (in addition, is there any way to take me off of spam filter, do you really think I will say any inappropriate words?)

i think you mean sufganiot. and that accidentally you mistyped the a and the g so the filter got the wrong word in there.


not possible, filter is for everyone. plus, your post above proves even you slip up sometimes...

Have you really gotten that as mishloach manos?

I don't like getting junk. Chocolate, cakes, real food are all ok.

Homemade food goes straight to the garbage (unless its someone I know very well and I know how clean their kitchen is).

Candies and other junk= I let the kids fill up one sandwich-bag full and the rest gets tossed or given away.

Snacks (pretzels, chips) and drinks get saved. As well as packaged cookies and wafers.

I hate when people put in wierd stuff just to match their theme.

So true. Now that they've finally invented chocolate hamantashen, I'll take those, please.

Agreed. One year, about 4 of my friends dressed their precious ones as monkeys and did banana themes. I had banana liquor, banana candies, banana cake, banana cream pies, etc.

It was disgusting.

1. healthy canned food I would never eat otherwise (like rice wrapped in grape leaves, it was delicious)
2. healthy food that can be eaten immediately (with proper kashrus supervision).
3. Well wrapped food. (food shouldn't be used as filler imho.)
4. Nosh I like.
Everything else, either gets recycled or thrown out.

REAL food...
So far the best I've gotten were fried meat kreplach and Yerushalmi Kugel....

It can be a life saver when you sober up after Purim and are ravenous and have nothing to eat......

In my community there's an organization that collects leftover packages of nosh after Purim and uses them for simchos.


For my Anthropology class I was reading about gift economies where status is established through lavish gift displays. Then there are cultures with trade rings, where you send various trinkets down the line and basically get back what you started with, the purpose being to maintain contact and relationships rather than to exchange goods. Both made me think of shalach manos.

OK, here's my request (It won't hurt, I guess)
Sweet Delights Kosher Gourmet Basket
  Chiyonosono Kumamoto Shinriki Saké Chateau Tour                                                                                 
                        Seran Grand Vin 2001

Then again, I appreciate any and all shalach manos... 

i don't like the evolution of this made up halacha that one has to give a MM that contains at least two different brachos.

i believe the real deal (please correct me if this is incorrect) is that it has to be just two items, and not even that, but that it has to be able to feed two people. so if you give a 16 oz box of cereal, you've done your job.

Me either.


You're mixing up mishloach manot (MM) and matanot l'evyonim (ME). MM has to be two different items to one person that are ready to eat, and there is no shiur. You can give one peanut and one raisin and you're good. ME has to be enough for a meal for a person (which is minimum $3 these days) and it has to be given to two people.

I don't believe this is correct. I think the food item has to be "choshuv" enough in the eyes of the receiver. It has to be a bit more substantial than a peanut or raisin.

No, that's impossible, because junk food is not choshuv and we all know that's the staple of shalach manot.

No, technically you are correct, but the real MM is supposed to be a dish that is to be served at the Purim seuda, but we all know that it's totally degenerated in this day and age.

yum i can't wait! tons of candy and cookies delivered right to my door!

spot, i don't know if you were looking for ideas but here is a thread on another board with some cute ones.

And, muhn is the best kind of hamantaschen, what is wrong with all of you.

I assume you also like poop hamentashen

I'm with you on this one.

thanks for the link, rachel.
i like really basic and simple.

i don't like themes, particularly because people put a bunch of stuff in there that's not even food just to fit in.
example:

Well can you include things that aren't ready to eat like tea bags and hot cocoa mix?

THis one was hilarious:



Meatloaf that looks like cake and dessert that looks like pasghetti... yummm.

You must be older than 65.

Ich.

My in-laws do a "basar v'yayin" theme every year.

They give a bottle of wine and a log of salami. I think it goes over well.

Along with a defibrillator?

It can be cut up and used by many at a Purim seuda, and as it's nicely packaged, it can be re-gifted if the need arises if you would merit to receive one of theirs.

i think that as long as you have two other readily edible items, it doesn't matter what else you put in there.

Where would we send it to?

Yes, though I have to admit that I first gave it. I've sent pizza several times. It even arrives with its own shaliach mitzva. The trick is to send it early enough in the day that it doesn't interfere with the meat meal, and late enough that everyone is wondering what to eat besides more chocolate.

And if it doesn't all get eaten right away, it goes in the fridge and the kids can have it on Shushan Purim. They always have school off, but it's a work day for me.


Thus my preferences also. The first Purim here we were in a mercaz klita, returned early in the evening with a toddler and baby after having been at someone else's table for the mishte. Since we were new, we didn't get that many MM that year. We came home to find a delightful package of homemade challah rolls with smoked mackeral, humous, coleslaw, and pickles. It really hit the spot, and I realized that I much prefer real food, and much prefer homemade.

Can I be your friend? Pizza is one of my favorite foods!

oy, you won't like this: my daughter will be a monkey this year (that's the costume i'm able to borrow). i'm putting a banana and something else banana-y in the MM.



smart people. one of my friends would so appreciate the salami, especially if i were to dry it for a week or so beforehand

I would love to receive pizza! That's such a great idea!