Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Happy Purim’s Mishloach Manot Program

  • What is a Purim Mishloach Manot Fundraiser?

    Also called a Shalach Manos fundraiser, a Purim program, a Purim shuttle, a Purim project or a Purim fundraiser.
    It is an increasingly popular way for Jewish institutions to raise money while continuing a tradition that is centuries old. In short, members pay their organization to deliver Mishloach Manot or Shalach Manos (Purim Baskets) on their behalf to other members. The organization charges a fee per recipient selected by each member, and then sends one basket of goodies to every member that was selected, along with a list of the people who chose to send to them. Typically organizations charge $3-$6 for each name selected, and will often have multiple members sending to the same person—greatly increasing the profit! (Read More about: What is a Mishloach Manot (Purim basket) fundraiser? from our blog)

  • What does HappyPurim.com provide?

    The most comprehensive web-based solution for managing a Purim Mishloach Manot fundraiser. Happy Purim's service includes:

    Assistance uploading and setting up your membership list and fundraiser details. You do NOT need to type in all of your members names!
    A dedicated website that your members can securely login to, view fundraiser details, select recipients, and pay.
    A second “administrative” website that allows you to monitor progress of the fundraiser, make changes, add members, and print letters to include with each basket.
    Knowledgeable staff with years of experience that can provide advice on pricing and other details.
    Unlimited tech support.
    (Please email sales@HappyPurim.com if you are interested in purchasing ready-made baskets.)

  • Reciprocity – Does Happy Purim’s software include this?

    Absolutely! It gives members the ability to automatically send a basket to those who send the member a basket, where the member did not originally (or initially) send one to that person. It is one of the many features that are included with our Shalach Monos software. You can even charge a different price for reciprocal orders than for original selections. As not every organization uses this feature, it can be turned on and off at your discretion.

  • What if some of our members do not have computers?

    Happy Purim software is designed to accommodate multiple methods of recording orders. Your members can send paper order forms that can be entered very easily on the administrative website by name, member id number or even by a barcode scanner! However, our web-based ordering system was designed for even those with minimal computer skills, and even technophobes should have no trouble placing orders online. We often receive emails from elderly members who comment on the ease of using the HappyPurim.com website.

  • Our synagogue has a Mishloach Manot fundraising module as part of their synagogue
    management software—why should we use HappyPurim.com?

    Reduce or eliminate data entry. Our clients see an average of 75-100% of their orders placed directly by their members on our secure website—which saves many, many hours of data entry and reduces errors and typographical mistakes.
    Cut overhead costs and make your fundraiser environmentally friendly.By using HappyPurim.com you can greatly reduce the amount of paper and postage required to run a Purim fundraiser. Many of our clients completely eliminate paper order forms; others will only send them by request or to those without computers.
    Free up synagogue computers/resources. By using our web-based software, the fundraiser can be administered on any computer anywhere. This frees up your synagogue’s computers and administrative personnel for other tasks, and allows volunteers to manage the fundraiser from their own homes.
    Raise more money. HappyPurim.com includes numerous features that will help increase the amount of money you raise. Our clients report increases in funds raised of an average of 5%-25%. Some synagogues have more than doubled the amount of money they raised the previous year (references available).
    Decide for yourselves. Please click here to contact us for a free demo.

  • What if I’ve never run a Purim fundraiser before?

    A Purim fundraiser is great way to raise money while simultaneously providing a wonderful service of Mishloach Manot distribution. It is also a great community-builder: a great way to promote interaction between your members, and make new members feel welcome. We have assisted numerous organizations run their first, successful, Purim fundraiser. The Happy Purim staff have years of experience and much advice that we’d be happy to share with you.

  • Does Happy Purim charge for tech support?

    No. Our clients rave about the quality of our support staff as well as our responsiveness and availability. We provide a dedicated email address for support, and our support team can be reached easily by phone as well.

  • Is your Shalach Manos software secure?

    Happy Purim takes your security and safety very seriously. HappyPurim.com requires that all orders be placed through a secure browser session. We currently use 256-bit encryption to ensure the security of personal information and credit card numbers submitted to our servers. HappyPurim.com is tested and certified daily to pass the “McAfee Secure” Security Scan, ensuring that our application(s) and systems are free from potential vulnerabilities and complies with the Payment Card Industries Data Security Standard (PCI compliant).

  • What about our members’ privacy?

    Client membership data belongs to you, not Happy Purim LLC. We do not and will not share, sell, or distribute membership data to anyone without your express consent. HappyPurim.com’s business is dependent on this key policy and it is of utmost importance to us, as it is to our clients.

  • HappyPurim.com has helped our school or synagogue raise a lot of money,
    what else can you help us with?

    Our Mishloach Manos software can be used for other fundraisers as well. Any type of greeting-exchange program can be run using our service. After our Purim fund-raising program, our Rosh Hashanah fundraiser is the most popular. See www.HappyRoshHashanah.com for more details.

  • What does HappyPurim.com cost?

    For organizations with at least 100 members we are confident that we not only provide the best solution for running a Shalach Manot fundraiser, but the most economical as well. Please click here for a quote and to find out more.

  • Still have questions?

    Click here or call us at (201) 47-Purim . Please visit our blog for many more details about Mishloach Manot fundraisers as well as feedback and insight from our users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Purim

  • What is Purim?

    Purim is the Jewish holiday recorded in the Book of Esther commemorating the delivery of the Jews from the plot of Haman to exterminate them.

  • When is Purim?

    Purim is celebrated on the 14th of the Jewish month of Adar (in cities that were walled during ancient times, e.g. Jerusalem, on the 15th). In 2013 it is from sunset February 23rd, through nightfall on February 24th.

  • What are the Mitzvot (commandments) of Purim?

    There are 4 mitzvot (commandments) associated with Purim:
    1) Megillah—Hear the reading of the Book of Esther.
    2) Have a festive meal.
    3) Matanot L’evyonim—Gifts of charity to the poor.
    4) Mishloach Manot—Sending gifts of food and drink.

  • What are Shalach Manos, Mishloach Manot, Shlach Monos, or Purim Baskets?

    It is the mitzvah on Purim of sending a gift consisting of at least two items of food to another person. To fulfill this obligation, one must give food that can be consumed without further preparation, such as, baked goods, fruits, candy, wine, or other beverages. It is best that a third party deliver these gifts. The phrase Mishloach Manot used in the Megillah implies that this mitzvah should be performed through an agent. (Mishloach means sending.)

  • Does one fulfill the Halachic (religious law) requirement through a Mishloach Manot fundraiser?

    Please contact your Rabbi for a definitive answer.
    Some Rabbinic authorities hold that you do fulfill your obligation by participating in a Shalach Manos fundraiser, and some hold that you do not.

  • What is a Mishloach Manot (Purim basket) theme?

    In recent years it has become popular to distribute Shalach Manot baskets with a theme. While we’d recommend that those running a Shalach Monos fundraiser for the first time use a traditional, Purim-themed basket (with kosher goodies including Hamentaschen) the more adventurous make baskets with themes ranging from the Seven Species of Israel to “Have a Nutty Purim” or a baseball theme. (Click here for a list of themes, including suggestions for basket contents, from our blog.)

  • What is a Hamantash, Hamantaschen or Hamentashen?

    A Hamantash is a triangular-shaped cookie often filled with fruit preserves, poppy-seeds or chocolate. Hamantash is singular, Hamantashen is plural. In Hebrew they are called Oznei Haman, which means Haman’s ears. There are a number of theories as to the origin of the custom of eating Hamantaschen on Purim. One is that they resemble Haman’s (the antagonist in the story of Purim) 3 cornered hat. Another is that they resemble his ears.