The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

I have become more mellow after reaching my mid-sixties. I no longer feel axiomatic and certainly not dogmatic regarding certain ideas I once felt. I have realized that people are different; their needs, hopes, and dreams differ.

I realized some people revel and look forward to making Purim special and are not interested in making PURIM PASHUT.

Therefore, I have changed. Those who want to keep the original PIP or Purim is Pashut, and give minimal Shaloch Manos; great, and I respect them.

And those who want to make Purim Plentiful (PIP= Purim is Plentiful) and make lots of Shaloch Manos, I say, “GREAT”! And I respect you as well.

The new idiom is PIP- PURIM is PERSONAL.

Purim (like most of the halachik universe) has enough room in its big tent to accommodate both Purim is Pashut people and Purim is Plentiful people.

We are all in the big tent together.

However, there is one aspect of Purim that is unanimously agreed upon.

The Rambam says it best:

It is preferable for a person to be more liberal with his donations to the poor than to be lavish in his preparation of the Purim feast or in sending portions to his friends. For there is no greater and more splendid happiness than to gladden the hearts of the poor, the orphans, the widows, and the converts.

We all have an obligation to give Matanos L’Evyonim, gifts to the poor.

We are obligated to give- all of us- men and women, two monetary gifts to two needy individuals.

This is the most important part of Purim, and as the Rambam states, it's more important than a larger meal or more Mishloach Manos.

Therefore, as usual, I will accept funds to distribute to the needy on Purim day.

You can give me before Purim, on the day of Purim, or after the Megillah.

You can give me cash or a check made out to the Ahavas Israel.

This year, you can also give online to help facilitate another method of giving.

Here’s what you do-

Picture # 1:

Go to the Shul website, https://www.ahavasisrael.org/

See the fourth option, “DONATE.”

If you click on DONATE a screen appears that first asks if you have an account or not.

Picture Number Two:

Scroll down until you see “Payment Details”.

Under the word “TYPE,” there is a window that states, “Please Choose One”.

An arrow pointing down at the end of the line indicates a drop-down menu is available.

Picture Number Three

Hit the arrow, and several options appear, which you can choose from to indicate what you are donating for.

You can pay for an Aliayah, Yahrtzeit, N’Shei Event….

The third one from the bottom says, “Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (please describe).”

Click on that option, and in the window “Payment Notes” (which appears under the amount you want to donate), type in the words, “Purim” or “Matanos L’Evyonim.” (Picture Number four)

By doing so, you will donate directly into the account and fulfilling the Mitzvah of Matanos L’Evyonim.

I am attaching several pictures to help those like me who are not so “computer savvy.”

May we always be privileged to be among the givers, not the takers.

Frelilichen Purim,