It's nearly Purim, and I'm still thinking about a shocking meeting I had with a local charity last year.
"Lots" is the meaning of the ancient Persian word, "Purim". It refers to the lots that Haman cast to determine on which date to destroy the Jewish people. I don't think it refers to the lots of waste that takes place in the community.
During Purim, lots of food is given as Mishloach Manot (sending of portions) to friends as one of the commandments of this joyous festival. Then there is Matanot L'evyonim (gifts to the poor) - food or money to at least two poor people, to be handed out on the day of the festival. These days, the custom of giving Mishloach Manot is so popular that many families spend a lot of effort and money organising gifts to be hand-delivered to the homes of their friends.
The trouble is, the gifts are just piling up unused - as in the picture below. This year, the GIFT charity warehouse received a record amount of donated Mishloach. Its head office iwas stacked to capacity: large plastic boxes filled with an abundance of crisp packs, mini drink cartons, sweets and chocolates. The value of the foods, waiting to be sorted, is estimated at £13,000. The charity also set up a Purim texting service last year and the funds collected by midday were distributed to the needy on that day. But donations amounted to just £1,000. Over the years, it seems that the emphasis on Matanot L'evyonim has decreased at the (physical and metaphorical) expense of focusing on Mishloach Manot and the Purim meal (Seudah). Many believe the imbalance is wrong as the highest regard should be placed on giving to the poor.
The 12th-century philosopher and Torah scholar Rambam said that, however much one spends on Mishloach Manot and the Seudah - it is better to spend more on Matanot L'evyonim. This can be interpreted to mean that one should either reduce the amounts spent on lavish gifts or increase the amount spent on charity.
Rochelle, a food volunteer at GIFT, told me that even though she is overwhelmed by the kindness of giving on Purim, she feels the meaning behind the commandments have been overshadowed by over-indulgence. "The idea of Mishloach Manot is to reconnect with our fellow man, so a gift should be meaningful - not necessarily expensive."
The other issue is that the value of snack food, accumulated in the charity's warehouse, can never be fully redeemed. A lot of manpower is needed to check each food item, its use-by date and that it is kosher. It is then sent to families, charity events and even abroad. But could the value of the items be put to better use?
Rochelle believed it could. She would like to see families give a far higher proportion to the poor, instead of spending so much on fancy food gifts and excessive junk. This would enable those in need to get immediate financial benefit.
"They need these funds. It would allow them to start preparing for Passover, which is just four weeks later," she explained. "Instead, many must wait until the last minute for our help. It doesn't have to be like this. There's clearly enough money in the system to help more effectively. Unfortunately, at the moment it's just locked into too many packets of crisps and sweets."
To donate: Text PURM17 £[with the amount] to 70070
