Q. Happy Purim Rov. Having experienced this year an unusual inflation and a great increase in prices, what is the minimum amount to be Yotze with the mitzva of Matonos Laevyonim this Purim? (5782-2022)
(See also next question).
A. On question 3061 we wrote: “Mishna Berura (694: 2) asserts to follow the opinion of the Ritvo (Megila 7b) that one fulfills the Matonos Loevyonim obligation even with two prutos (one prutah per indigent) or its equivalent in food. (“Shaveh Prutah”).
The value of a perutah according to the opinion of the Chazon Ish is 1/40 or .025 of a gram of silver, and according to the Masoro it is .0182 of a gram of silver (Masores Hashekel p.119)””
At today’s (Adar II, 5782) price of silver (about $1.002 Cdn. per gram) it would result in a bit more or less than a penny.
Although one fulfills the obligation with a Prutah, nonetheless, Poskim write that it’s proper to give each poor person a significant and meaningful gift (Maharsho Megila ibid.). Others maintain that it should be enough to purchase three egg volumes of bread (Shaarey Teshuvo 694, see also other opinions on Nitei Gavriel Purim 33:2).
Yemei Mishteh VeSimcha (p. 244 published in 5766) quotes Rav Elyashiv zt’l as saying that even though one fulfills one’s obligation with a prutah, nonetheless, it’s proper to give each poor person about 5 shekalim which is an amount that would make the poor person happy. Halichos Shlomo (chap 19, note 62) quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt’l as having said that in order to fulfill all opinions one should give an amount which is significant by the giver and by the taker’s standards.
In question #507 in this forum we wrote that Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a advises to give at least a dollar (Canadian) for Matonos Loevyonim, The reason is that you can still acquire a roll of bread with something in it, to be used for a minimum Seudah. The Rov maintains that on this year, (5782) the above still stands.
The Rov also recommends that one with limited resources, should give two dollars to two needy persons, then divide the rest of the money available and donate to as many recipients as possible, even if it less than a dollar, since every act of giving constitutes a new separate mitzva.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a