Women Giving Mishloach Manos

Question: My husband usually gives mishloach manos and matanos laevyonim for our family. Is that okay, or do I need to give my own, too?

Answer: Rambam (Megilla 2:15) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 695:4) write that everyone must give two food items to another for mishloach manos, and give charity to two poor people for matanos laevyonim (Rambam, ibid. 16;  Shulchan Aruch OC 694:1; Mishna Berura 694:1).

While the Rema (OC 695:4) writes that women have the same obligation in mishloach manos and matanos laevyonim as men, the Mishna Berura (695:25) and Aruch Hashulchan (OC 695:18) quote the Magen Avraham (OC 695:14) who writes that many married women are not particular to give their own mishloach manos and rely on their husband’s. He writes that ideally, married women should give their own mishloach manos to their friends.

The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 694:2) writes that a husband can give matanos laevyonim on behalf of himself and his wife. However, R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 4:173:58) quotes R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Fuchs (Halichos Bas Yisrael, p303) who writes that a husband giving on his wife’s behalf should ideally inform her that he is doing so.

In conclusion, a couple can give matanos laevyonim together, though they must be aware that the other has given on their behalf as they are both required to give. Ideally, married women should give their own mishloach manos and not rely on their husbands to give on their behalf.