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The obligation of Mishlo’ah Manot on Purim requires sending at least two food items to at least one person.
Does one fulfill the obligation if one of the two food items he sends is a beverage? For example, if a person sends his friend a cake and a bottle of wine, does he fulfill the Misva of Mishlo’ah Manot with this package?
A number of Halachic authorities infer the answer to this question from a story told in the Gemara, in Masechet Megila, about Rabbi Yehuda Nesi’a. Rabbi Yehuda sent a piece of meat and a barrel of wine to Rabbi Oshe’aya, and upon receiving the gift, Rabbi Oshe’aya sent a message to Rabbi Yehuda congratulating him on fulfilling the Misva of Mishlo’ah Manot. Several commentators raise the question of what information the Gemara sought to convey by relating this story, and they explain that this incident demonstrates that a beverage – such as wine – is considered a food with respect to the obligation of Mishlo’ah Manot. Accordingly, one can fulfill the Misva by sending a food and a beverage for Mishlo’ah Manot, or, for that matter, by sending two different beverages. This is the ruling of the Seror Ha’haim (a work by Rav Haim Ben Shemuel, a disciple of the Rashba), as well as of Rav Yisrael Nijara (1530-1600), based on the ruling of the Terumat Hadeshen (Rav Yisrael Isserlin, 1390-1460). This is also the view accepted by the Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933).
However, there is a discrepancy between different texts of the aforementioned passage in the Gemara. According to some versions, Rabbi Oshe’aya said to Rabbi Yehuda that through his gift he fulfilled the Misva of Matanot La’ebyonim (sending gifts to the poor on Purim), not the Misva of Mishlo’ah Manot. Rabbi Yehuda thereupon sent an additional piece of meat, and Rabbi Oshe’aya then sent the message that he has fulfilled the obligation of Mishlo’ah Manot. According to this version, then, one does not fulfill the Misva by sending beverages.
As for the final Halacha, one may, strictly speaking, follow the lenient position and include a beverage as one of the two items sent as Mishlo’ah Manot. However, given the importance of this very special Misva, it is proper to ensure that at least one Mishlo’ah Manot package given on Purim should include at least two dry food items, in order to fulfill the obligation according to all opinions.
Summary: The Misva of Mishlo’ah Manot requires sending at least two food items to at least one person. Strictly speaking, beverages count as one food or even as both food items. Nevertheless, it is proper to send at least one Mishlo’ah Manot package that contains at least two dry food items.
