Thursday, March 20, 2008

When a gift is more than a gift

"[The Jewish people] were to observe [the 14th and 15th days of Adar] as days of feasting and merrymaking, and as an occasion for sending mishloach manot - gifts to one another - and matanot l’evyonim - presents to the poor." - Megilat Esther 9:22

With Purim beginning tonight, Jews around the world are gathering items of food, drink and fun to share with friends as mishloach manot. Ideally, two parties benefit: The recipient enjoys receiving, and the giver enjoys giving.

But what if the joys of mishloach manot could go beyond giving and receiving? What if the money we use to buy our gifts – both this Purim and in general – can also fulfill the obligation of matanot l’evyonim?

Today, a growing number of companies are producing environmentally and socially responsible goods that allow us to treat our friends and ourselves while doing good for the world and the people in it. With a bit of research and a willingness to spend a little extra, we can ensure that coffee production doesn’t lead to deforestation and chocolate growers earn a living wage. And the options do not end with food products; flowers, handmade carpets, bamboo bowls, energy saving appliances and even wedding presents from department stores can be purchased in ways that give back.

In a holiday that we associate with merry-making and frivolity, it’s nice to remember that we don’t have to put our social responsibilities aside. Few actions speak louder than where we spend our money. Sometimes a gift can be more than a gift.

List of Links:
Fair Trade Foundation
Ten Thousand Villages, a Fair Trade store
Earth Aid Kits
I Do Foundation

The Global Rose as Social Tool, New York Times, March 13

Posted by Liore at 03:30:08 | Permanent Link | Comments (4) |
Comments
1 - I've never thought about how to make mishloach manot, a tradition I've largely stopped practicing, into an act of social justice. It imbues the practice with a whole different sense of meaning. This is a wonderful recommendation. Thanks. (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2008/03/20 - 18:27:31
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2 - While we're on the subject of "eco-gifts" - don't forget about Earth Aid Kits. These kits provide a suite of energy efficient items (including programmable thermostats, CFL lightbulbs and more). Gift certificates make great house warming and wedding presents! Check out: http://coejl.earthaidkit.com/ for more information.

Alternatively, how about offsetting a year of carbon emissions as a present when a baby is born. E-blue horizons is my favorite vendor for this purpose: http://www.e-bluehorizons.com/
 (Comment this)

Written by: Jennifer at 2008/03/20 - 21:36:06
3 - Thanks for the thoughts, Liore. Indeed, there are a lot of ways to do good while giving gifts. Perhaps a good way to think about it in this day and age is that we can merge gifts to each other and gifts to the needy... (Comment this)

Written by: julie at 2008/03/20 - 22:31:06
4 - The environment is something we have left in God's hands. Perhaps taking the environment into our own hands is particularly fitting on Purim - where God's name is completely absent from the Book of Esther. (Comment this)

Written by: NME at 2008/03/21 - 12:02:55
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