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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 23:30:51 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: For which commandments are Blessings said

Eliezer Finkleman states in v31n92
> You can find an intersting reference to this in the Srideai Eish (Rabbi
> Yehiel Yaacov Weinberg) on why we say no blessing on Mishloah Manot,
> Sridei Eish 2:46.

Actually the reason we don't say blessings on Mishloach Manot has nothing
to do with whether we should or should not want to eat them. While there
is considerable discussion among authorities on this subject an excellent
explanation was given by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.

Quite simply the performance of a symbolic commandment whose purpose is
to remind me of something else (like Tzitzith reminding me of the
mitzvoth (cf 4-15-37:41) or Tefillin reminding me of the Torah 2-13-9)
then we say a blessing (in order to encourage the awareness that
SOMETHING else besides the raw performance is involved).

By contrast the performance of a non-symbolic commandment whose purpose
is soley that performance (like charity whose goal is to give, or
honoring ones parents whose goal is to give honor) requires no blessing
since the performance of the commandment is its own end. (There is one
possible exception to this theory (MAAKEH); however Rabbi Shalom
Kaminetsky once gave a shiur showing certain symbolic performances to
it).

It immediately follows that the sending of gifts which is its own end
does not need a blessing

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA; RHendel@Towson.Edu
Moderator Rashi is Simple
http://www.shamash.org/rashi/