Question: If one gives Mishloach Manot to a truly needy individual on Purim day, can one fulfill both Mitzvot of Mishloach Manot and Matanot La’Evyonim simultaneously in this manner?
Answer: We should first point out that one is obligated to give gifts to two needy people on Purim day, such that one would certainly need to give one more gift to another poor person.
Let us now discuss the question at hand regarding whether one can fulfill both Mitzvot of Mishloach Manot and Matanot La’Evyonim by giving Mishloach Manot to a needy individual.
The Gemara (Megillah 7a) states that Rabbi Yehuda Nesiah (grandson of Rabbi Yehuda Ha’Nassi) sent meat and wine to Rabbi Oshaya on Purim day. Rabbi Oshaya sent him back a message saying, “Honored rabbi! You have now fulfilled your obligation of Mishloach Manot and Matanot La’Evyonim.” This means that since Rabbi Oshaya was poor, Rabbi Yehuda fulfilled both Mitzvot by sending him Mishloach Manot.
Nevertheless, the Turei Even in his commentary on the above Gemara explains that this does not mean that Rabbi Yehuda fulfilled both Mitzvot; rather, it means he fulfilled only one or the other, for one cannot fulfill two Mitzvot with just one Mishloach Manot.
Other Poskim write that it is forbidden to intend to fulfill both Mitzvot through sending one Mishloach Manot because of the rule that “Mitzvot should not be fulfilled in packages,” meaning that one should not perform multiple Mitzvot within a single action, for this is considered degrading to the Mitzvot. Responsa Ketav Sofer (Chapter 139) rules likewise.
Some Poskim write several other reasons why both of these Mitzvot should not be fulfilled simultaneously and there is an obligation to perform each Mitzvah separately.
Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l discusses this rule of not “fulfilling Mitzvot in packages” in several of his works and he writes that when both Mitzvot are being fulfilled simultaneously through one action, this prohibition does not apply. He proceeds to prove this from the Mishnah (Pesachim 35a) which states that Kohanim may prepare Matzot for the Seder night using Terumah (tithed) flour gifted to them. Although there is a Mitzvah for Kohanim to consume Terumah and the Mitzvah of eating Matzah on the night of Pesach is likewise incumbent upon them (as it is upon the rest of the Jewish nation), we nevertheless see that this is perfectly permissible since both of these Mitzvot are being fulfilled through the same action. The only time it would be forbidden is when two Mitzvot are being performed together through two different action, for example, regarding the Mitzvah of purifying the leper, two lepers should not be purified at the same time. However, if one can perform both Mitzvot with the same action, there is no prohibition whatsoever.
Maran zt”l (in his Chazon Ovadia- Purim, page 159) quotes Hagaon Harav Avraham Palagi zt”l in his Responsa Vaya’an Avraham who was asked if one meal can be held to celebrate the conclusion of two separate tractates of the Talmud (Siyum Masechet) or perhaps this constitutes the prohibition of “performing Mitzvot in packages,” to which he replied that this prohibition only applies when two distinct Mitzvot are performed in two separate actions. However, doing one action to perform two Mitzvot is permissible.
Halachically speaking, Maran zt”l rules that if one gives Mishloach Manot to a needy individual, one has, in fact, fulfilled both Mitzvot of Mishloach Manot and Matanot La’Evyonim simultaneously, and at that point, one need only give one more gift to another poor person and that is all. Nevertheless, since this is subject to a disagreement among the Poskim, it is preferable to send another Mishloach Manot to another individual and in this way, one fulfills one’s obligation according to all opinions.
