Time to Order Mishloach Manot!
This year's Mishloach Manot basket theme is "Go Team USA!" in anticipation of the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in South Korea.
The motto of the Winter Olympics is "Passion. Connected." What better way to describe Purim 2018 at AA? It is our connection to the past, through reading from the megillah, that drives our passion to connect with every community member through sending mishloach manot.
Therefore, every basket, which will be made for every AA community member, will connote the spirit of our athletes while bringing the spirit of Purim into our homes.
What is the Religious Tradition?
The mitzvah of giving Mishloach Manot derives from the Book of Esther. It is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast held later in the day, and to increase love and friendship among Jews. This is done to counter Haman's assertion that the Jewish people are characterized by strife and disunity. When celebrating Purim there are four mitzvot: reading the Book of Esther (megillah), gifts to the poor (matnotot la'evyonim), festive meal (Purim seudah), and sending gifts (mishloach manot).
How Much Food to Send in a Mishloach Manot Basket?
The word manot (gifts) is the plural of the singular word manah (portion). Therefore, the minimum that one must give is two portions of different foods. These foods must require no additional preparation and must be ready to eat.
What to Send
Traditionally, the food portions would consist of special delicacies such as hamantaschen, fragrantly-spiced beans, wine, and salted almonds. Should the recipients be in need, money can also be given. In recent years, the baskets have become more extravagant and elaborate, often including toys and keepsakes, and people send them to large numbers of friends, neighbors, and teachers.
AA's Tradition
Once again, we will help our congregants fulfill the commandments of Purim by providing Mishloach Manot for all to purchase. Mishloach Manot is one of the ways that we bring warmth into our synagogue and emphasize the importance of community. If you have received a Purim basket in the past, but have not yet participated, we hope that you will be inspired to participate this year. All proceeds benefit AA's Family and Youth Programming
Every year, AA's baskets have a unique theme. Past themes include Georgia on My Mind (2017), Night at the Movies (2016), and Go Green (2015). In anticipation of the 2018 Winter Olympics, we chose the theme Go Team USA! for Purim 2018.
Please put these dates on your calendar so that you may be part of the Mishloach Manot Purim excitement and tradition:
- All basket orders are due Wednesday, January 31
- Assembly Day is Sunday, February 11 | 1:00 – 2:30 pm (includes light lunch)
- Delivery Day is Sunday, February 18, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mishloach Manot Chair, Barry Fields, at barrygfields@gmail.com. For questions relating specifically to the ordering process, please contact Assistant Director of Education, Nicole Flom, at nflom@aasynagogue.org or 404.603.5743.
How It Works
For $9.00 per name (or household), send a beautiful gift basket to anyone on the Ahavath Achim Synagogue membership list, religious school teachers and families, Ahava Early Learning Center staff and family or the AA staff. Also, this year we are including the option to send to the other rabbis in the community. Each person on your list will receive our gift package, along with a Purim card, which lists all the people who sent them a basket*. Please note that due to the number of baskets being assembled and delivered, we are not able to include a personalized greeting,** and the Purim card will be computer generated.
* If you are sent a Mishloach Manot basket from more than one person, you will only receive one basket with a card listing all the people honoring you with a Mishloach Manot.
**Baskets being shipped out of town may have a personalized message.
Price Structure
We hope you will be inclined to participate in this Mishloach Manot mitzvah by sending to as many friends as possible. To encourage sending to more than one person, we have select group discounted rates listed below. The cost of ordering each individual basket is $9.00. If you would like to purchase additional baskets for personal use or to give to a non-member, baskets will cost $15 each and must be picked up on Sunday, February 18 by noon. To have a basket mailed out of the Atlanta metropolitan area, each basket will cost $30.
Group Discounts
Send flat rate to these groups at a reduced price:
- All AA Staff – $168
- AA Board – $174
- Kesher@AA Staff – $84
- Kesher@AA Families – $180
- Ahava Staff – $78
- Ahava Board – $84
- Ahava Families – $192
- Universal Mailing (send to every congregant) – $500
Two Options for Placing Your Order
- For your convenience, Mishloach Manot may be ordered online at www.HappyPurim.com. Online ordering allows you to select the names from a pre-loaded list that you wish to include, see who you received a basket from last year, remind yourself who you sent a basket to, and allows you to securely pay by credit card. By now, you should have received an email with your unique password to access the Happy Purim portal. If you have not received this email, please contact Nicole Flom at nflom@aasynagogue.org or 404.603.5743. All online orders must be submitted by Wednesday, January 31.
- For those of you who wish to pay with a paper order form, please refer to your Sisterhood Directory for a list of congregants AND the lists (on the next tab): new members, AA staff and board members, Kesher@AA staff and families, Ahava Early Learning Center staff, board members, and families, and all Atlanta-local Rabbis (as names on these lists may not appear in the directory). The last step is to download and complete the form and return it to the office with your check by Wednesday, January 31.
Kashrut
Under the guideline of the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism, all food items in the basket adhere to the rules of kashrut.
Delivery
All local baskets will be delivered beginning on Sunday, February 18. Each person on your list will receive a Mishloach Manot package, along with a Purim card, listing all the people who sent them a basket.
Reciprocity
If you would like to automatically send a gift basket to those people who you are receiving one from, please select the reciprocity section on the HappyPurim portal or indicate on your paper order form. If you check the reciprocity section on the HappyPurim portal, your credit card will be charged after Purim for any additional basket(s). If you check the reciprocity box on the order form, you will be billed for the additional basket(s) after Purim.
Join Us – Volunteers Needed!
If you would like to help us with one of the many components of this project: Purchasing Committee, Delivery Committee, Assembly Committee, New Member Outreach Committee, or Follow-Up Committee, please contact our Mishloach Manot Chair, Barry Fields, at barrygfields@gmail.com.
- Assembly Day: Sunday, February 11, 1:00 – 2:30 pm (includes light lunch)
- Delivery Day: Sunday, February 18, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (volunteers will be provided a route to deliver baskets)
List of New AA Members, Flat Rate Groups, and Atlanta Rabbinic Association (ARA) Rabbis
This list is for those who are submitting a paper order form and referring to the Sisterhood Directory. If you are ordering online, all the lists in the downloadable PDF below are accessible from your account.
For questions relating specifically to the ordering process, please contact Assistant Director of Education, Nicole Flom, at nflom@aasynagogue.org or 404.603.5743.