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.
