On Purim, we make Mishloach Manot baskets to send as gifts to friends, family, and acquaintances. These baskets are given as gifts within the Jewish community as a symbol of friendship and the strength of the Jewish community. To give a Mishloach Manot is considered a mitzvah – a commandment and good deed. It is also customary to give Mishloach Manot, along with other gifts of food and money, as charitable offerings to the poor. The charity is given in order to ensure that the recipient has enough food during the Purim celebration. The Mishloach Manot custom originated in the Book of Esther, as part of the story of Purim:
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. (Esther 9:22)
I thought it would be fun to put together a few Mishloach Manot baskets for Purim, to give you some examples of the types of items that might be included. Obviously these are just ideas; with Mishloach Manot, you can really get creative and have fun putting together all kinds of baskets, from simple to spectacular. The only “rule,” really, is to have at least two items that can be eaten in the basket. If you’re making a basket for a family who keeps kosher, you’ll want to make sure that all food items you include are kosher or kosher-certified. Most baskets will also contain some sort of hamantaschen, a traditional cookie for the holiday. Beyond that, the possibilities are endless!
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TEA AND CHALLAH PURIM BASKET
This basket would be a great gift for a tea lover, or for somebody who loves to bake. I’ve included some delicious kosher herbal teas, a pretty mug with a tea strainer, homemade hamantaschen with nuts and dates, and a fun book called “The Great Latke Hamantash Debate.” I’ve also included one of our popular Royal Challah silicone baking pans in a small size. They will help the recipient create beautifully shaped challot without the need for braiding, and are particularly helpful for those who wish to make gluten free challah (the dough is often difficult to braid). Links to the products appear below.
Tea and Challah Basket Product Links
The Great Latke Hamantash Debate
KID FUN PURIM BASKET
This basket is perfect for that special kid in your life. It’s filled with all kinds of fun stuff… a colorful book, a traditional noisemaker called a gragger, and a cool FunBites sandwich cutter for making mini sandwich bites for school lunches. I’ve filled it out with grape juice, cookies, and candy treats from the local kosher market. You can also stick in some healthier treats like dried fruit and nuts, as long as the recipient doesn’t have a nut allergy.
To make the pretty bag you see with my home-baked hamantaschen, download my free printable “Happy Purim!” and “Chag Purim Sameach!” treat bag toppers and instructions. They can be found at the following link: Homemade Mishloach Manot Baskets for Purim
Kid Fun Purim Basket Product Links
The Queen Who Saved Her People
MINI MISHLOACH MANOT
These Mini Mishloach Manot baskets are perfect for bringing to Hebrew school, for kids to give to their friends, and for larger groups where you want to send a small token for Purim. They’ll fit a few hamantaschen and another treat, like candy or dried fruit, in a cute little “basket” package just right for gift giving. Supplies can be found below, including ribbon and tags so you can write a little message to the recipient. Free printable “Happy Purim!” and “Chag Purim Sameach!” treat bag toppers and instructions can be found at the following link: Homemade Mishloach Manot Baskets for Purim.
Mini Mishloach Manot Product Links
L’CHAIM PURIM BASKET
This Mishloach Manot is designed for giving to “grown up” friends. Drinking is a part of the Purim celebration; the requirement in the Talmud goes so far as to instruct that one should get so drunk that they can’t tell the difference between the phrases Arur Haman (“cursed is Haman”) and Baruch Mordechai (“blessed is Mordecai”). While not everybody participates in this custom, those that do will appreciate the sentiment of this basket. It includes homemade Flavor Infused Vodka and Herb Infused Simple Syrup (follow the links for instructions to make your own). Here I’ve put homemade hamantaschen in a silver Chinese takeout box (you can buy them at the link below). I’ve also added a funny book, “The Kosher Guide to Imaginary Animals” (I reviewed the book here), some cookies, a Jewish ice mold, a jigger for measuring liquor into cocktails, and a mask to celebrate the costumed festivities of Purim.
L’Chaim Purim Basket Product Links
The Kosher Guide to Imaginary Animals
FAMILY FUN PURIM BASKET
This basket is a beautiful way to show a family that you care. Included are homemade hamantaschen, dates and nuts, herbal tea and kosher coffee, grape juice and kosher treats. It also includes two lovely masks to help the recipient celebrate the costumed Purim festivities.
Family Fun Purim Basket Product Links
Click here to learn how to make your own paper Mishloach Manot baskets – a great craft for getting kids involved in the holiday fun!
carolee spero says
I would like to win the Tea and Challah Purim Basket to give to my wonderful daughter-in-law who is a school teacher. She loves to bake for her husband and three children. This would be a perfect gift. A cup of tea and a good book for her.
Shelly Ricci says
I would love to win the Family Fun Basket bc my entire fam would enjoy it! 🙂
Emily says
I love the tea and challah basket
nancy Foulke says
Oh my! They all look wonderful, but since I love tea and love to read, the Tea and Challah would be my choice. Thanks.
laurie says
i would love the family fun purim basket to share with my granddaughter.She went to the yeshiva til 8th grade she is now 17 and misses being in that school it would be nice to enjoy it together…they are all lovely !!
Anita Bonita says
The Tea & Challah Basket — because it just might be the impetus I need to get off my tuchis and actually bake a challah. I’m sure Bubi’s rolling pin is around here somewhere …
Miriam Reichman says
I would love to win the family fun Purim basket. There is something for everyone and I especially love the beautiful masks!
Carrie says
Any of the baskets would be great, but my favorite has to be the one with the gragger in it. I would love it if you were to send one to my daughter, now 26 years old, but still my little girl. Jessie would be tickled to receive one of these. And since I can’t be there to spend the holiday with her, she wouldn’t need to be concerned that I might get annoyed and take that gragger away from her! I’ve already gotten my prize. Your post brought back for me the memory of my Jessie as a toddler… running up and down the aisles of the synagogue in her Queen Esther costume.. Such fun! Thanks!!
Beth says
Great looking baskets! Have a wonderful holiday!
Alyson says
The tea and challah! I am not Jewish but my roommate was and he invited me to seder, passover, and I went to the Temple sometimes with him and his family. His mother taught me to make Challah and latkes. I love tea anyways so this would be awesome to have when they come over here and visit because I do serve kosher meals for him and them 🙂
Vikki says
Would love to win family basket but any would do want to share it with the people I work with so they can learn a little bit more about being Jewish. I am the only Jew that works in my department. It would be fun to share with them. Thanks
Barbara Tuttle says
Either the Tea & Challah or the Family Fun basket would bring joy to my celebration of Purim. I love baking, I love eating, and I love warm beverages! I see the Family Fun basket includes dates, and my Hebrew name is Tamar! I love your beautiful site.
Nanette H says
The Tea and Challah Purim basket is great!
(love your site!)
Jan says
I love that you’ve included Israeli products in one of these charming baskets! Kol tov! I just returned from there and Purim was already the biggest shopping attraction.
robin robinson says
I can’t decide which one I like best! The kids basket reminds me of my childhood. Making hamantashchen with grandma, and the best part: eating them and playing with noisemakers! 🙂
lisa kane green says
i am a home care therapist that oftentimes share’s with my home bound clients holiday meals that i have either prepared or ones that are store bought. i would so love to win the tea and challah purim basket; so that i could actually distribute my own personally made challahs’ from that incredible challah pan.!!!!!!
Suzanne Dorshaw says
Would love to have the grown up basket Ever since my daughter left home and then my mother in law passing two years ago it gets harder and harder to enjoy the holidays. Love Purim
stu elman says
All the food looks yummmmmy.
Elizabeth Brown says
I would like to enter to win the Family Fun Purim Basket!
Heidi Thibodeau says
Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas! I’m currently in the process of converting, and this is my first time seriously celebrating Purim, so they were really helpful. I bought some baskets, through a temple program, to give to some of the people there who’ve been helping me, but it would be nice to make some more personalized ones, too, and you’ve given me some great ideas. I’ve always been a big tea drinker, and would love to win the tea basket – I had no idea there were so many fellow tea lovers out there, though, lol! Thanks for including links to where I can buy the products in case I don’t win. 🙂 I’d love to receive updates via email, so feel free to add me to that list as well.