Parshas Tetzaveh Shabbos Times Erev Shabbos Shabbos Day Mincha 6:20pm Shacharis 9:00am Plag Hamincha 6:43pm Latest time for Shema 10:17am Latest Candle lighting 7:46pm Shabbos Mincha 4:30 / 7:35pm Shkiya 8:04pm Shabbos Ends 8:45pm Short Vort for Shabbos Esther and Mordechai instituted mishlo'ach manos as part of the Purim festivities. What has this got to do with Purim? Purim is about recognising Hashem's Hand in everyday events. Where does sending food to one's friend come into this? We can answer via a note that was hung on the door to the Beis HaMedrash in Kelm during the month of Ellul each year. The note reminded everyone to be extra careful to create unity and foster good relations with others during the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah. What does this have to do with Rosh Hashanah? On Rosh Hashanah we coronate Hashem as our King, and in order to do that, there needs to be unity amongst His subjects - as the pasuk says 'and there was in Yeshurun a king, when the people gathered together' (meaning - when is there a king? When the people unite). The same can be said of Purim. Yes, Purim is all about recognising Hashem's Hand in our lives. But in order to do this fully, everyone is to recognise this together - after all, the miracle took place to the people as a whole - and so we send food to each other to foster the unity that facilitates this communal recognition. Furthermore, the Gemorah reveals that on Purim we re-accepted the Torah; a prerequisite for which is complete achdus and unity. Finally, Haman claimed that the Jewish People were 'a nation scattered and non-united amongst the nations.and they do not follow the religion/laws of the King, and it's not worth it for the King to keep them alive.' As Chazal reveal, 'the King' is a reference to HaShem. So Haman was claiming that we have no unity and do not follow Hashem's Path. On Purim we make sure we ingrain Hashem's Existence and constant involvement in the world within ourselves, and we foster unity too - therefore disproving both of Haman's claims.