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Minhagim of Chanukah: Difference between revisions
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==Dairy, Sufganiyot, and Latkes== | ==Dairy, Sufganiyot, and Latkes== | ||
# The minhag is to eat dairy foods on [[Chanukah]], in commemoration of the miracle that happened with the righteous woman Yehudit, who tricked and killed the enemy using dairy. <Ref> Rama 670:2, Kitzur S”A 139:71, Chayei Adam [[Chanukah]] 154:3, Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:12). See Nitei Gavriel who writes that the Sephardim don’t have this minhag | # The minhag is to eat dairy foods on [[Chanukah]], in commemoration of the miracle that happened with the righteous woman Yehudit, who tricked and killed the enemy using dairy. <Ref> Rama 670:2, Ran Shabbat on Rif 10a (brought in Bet Yosef 675), Maharshal Teshuva 85, Kitzur S”A 139:71, Chayei Adam [[Chanukah]] 154:3, Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:12). See Nitei Gavriel who writes that the Sephardim don’t have this minhag. However, Ben Ish Chai (Vayeshev (first year) #23) records this as a Sephardic minhag although he adds in Halacha 24 that the incident of Yehudit happened many years prior to the [[Chanukah]] story. Kaf Hachaim 670:17 agrees. see [http://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/2788472/jewish/Cheese-and-Dairy-on-Chanuka.htm Cheese and Dairy on Chanuka Chabad.org] </ref> | ||
# There is a Minhag to eat Sufganiot and Latkes that are fried in oil because the miracle of [[Chanukah]] happened with the oil of the menorah. <Ref> Sarid UPalit (pg 8) translates a letter of Rabbi Maimon (father of Rambam) who writes that one shouldn’t be lenient in any Minhag and specifically mentions the Minhag is to make Sufganiot on [[Chanukah]] to publicize the miracle of the oil. This minhag is mentioned by the poskim including Yalkut Yosef 671:15 and Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:13). Halichot Shlomo (Moadim, vol 1, pg 318) adds that perhaps the minhag is to have Sufganiyot because in [[Al HaMichya]] we say Al Mizbechecha remembering the Mizbe’ach which had to be put in genizah because of the Greeks. Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:13) adds that the minhag is to have Latkes. </ref> | # There is a Minhag to eat Sufganiot and Latkes that are fried in oil because the miracle of [[Chanukah]] happened with the oil of the menorah. <Ref> Sarid UPalit (pg 8) translates a letter of Rabbi Maimon (father of Rambam) who writes that one shouldn’t be lenient in any Minhag and specifically mentions the Minhag is to make Sufganiot on [[Chanukah]] to publicize the miracle of the oil. This minhag is mentioned by the poskim including Yalkut Yosef 671:15, Chazon Ovadia Chanuka pg. 18, and Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:13). Halichot Shlomo (Moadim, vol 1, pg 318) adds that perhaps the minhag is to have Sufganiyot because in [[Al HaMichya]] we say Al Mizbechecha remembering the Mizbe’ach which had to be put in genizah because of the Greeks. Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:13) adds that the minhag is to have Latkes. see[http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/823965/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/halachos-of-sufganiyot/ Halachos of Sufganiyot] by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz </ref> | ||
==Learning on Chanuka== | ==Learning on Chanuka== | ||
# It’s recommended to learn Hilchot [[Chanukah]] on [[Chanukah]] <ref> Yalkut Yosef 670:4 writes that it’s good to learn Hilchot [[Chanukah]] on [[Chanukah]] and quotes Salmat Chaim who agrees. See Alim LeTerufah (Miketz 5769 pg 48) who quotes the Orchot Chaim (a Rishon) that this is an obligation, however, he comments that in the hand written copies of the Orchot Chaim this text is omitted. </ref> | # It’s recommended to learn Hilchot [[Chanukah]] on [[Chanukah]] <ref> Yalkut Yosef 670:4 writes that it’s good to learn Hilchot [[Chanukah]] on [[Chanukah]] and quotes Salmat Chaim who agrees. See Alim LeTerufah (Miketz 5769 pg 48) who quotes the Orchot Chaim (a Rishon) that this is an obligation, however, he comments that in the hand written copies of the Orchot Chaim this text is omitted. </ref> | ||
==Dreidel== | ==Dreidel== | ||
# There’s a minhag for children to play Drediel. <ref> Otzer Minhagei Yishurun (19:4, pg 50) writes that the minhag is for children to play Dreidel because the Greeks who forbade [[gathering]] to learn the Talmidei Chachamim used the Driedel as a pretense for [[gathering]] to learn Torah. Minhagim VeHalichot Shel Maran Chatam Sofer (14:11, pg 181) writes that the Chatam Sofer kept this minhag. For more sources and reasons see Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:1), Bnei Yisaschar (Kislev 2:25), and Piskei Teshuvot 670:4. </ref> | # There’s a minhag for children to play Drediel. <ref> Otzer Minhagei Yishurun (19:4, pg 50) writes that the minhag is for children to play Dreidel because the Greeks who forbade [[gathering]] to learn the Talmidei Chachamim used the Driedel as a pretense for [[gathering]] to learn Torah. Minhagim VeHalichot Shel Maran Chatam Sofer (14:11, pg 181) writes that the Chatam Sofer kept this minhag. For more sources and reasons see Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:1), Bnei Yisaschar (Kislev 2:25), and Piskei Teshuvot 670:4. </ref> One should avoid gambling. <ref>Rav Tzvi Cohen in Chanuka-Dinim U'Minhagim (2:5, pg. 13) writes that it is forbidden to play for real money unless everybody returns the money. that they gained to its original owner. Piskei Teshuvot (670:4 n. 25) quotes the Shefa Chaim OC 2:283 who says that there is no issue of gambling because just like a father and son may gamble since they don’t care who wins or loses, on Chanukah everyone is like one family. Nevertheless, Nitai Gavriel 51:3 says that one should be strict unless it is with very little money. Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz (“Playing Dreidel on Chanuka”) warns that one should be especially careful that the money doesn’t get out of hand because it’s a particularly bad idea to gamble under the cover of religious observance.</ref> | ||
==Chanuka Presents== | ==Chanuka Presents== | ||
# There is a minhag to give gelt or money to children on Chanuka.<ref>[http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=33683&st=&pgnum=485 Moed LeKol Chai 27:77] offers a kabbalistic reason for giving Talmidei Chachamim and children monetary gifts on Chanuka. [http://www.he.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/598679 chabad.org] notes that the chabad minhag is to give gelt to children. Piskei Teshuvot 670:3 records that such was the practice of the steipler. A possible source for giving gifts on Chanuka is the Rambam (Chanuka 3:3) who writes that there's a mitzvah of simcha on Chanuka and regarding Yom Tov the Rambam (Yom Tov 6:18) includes giving gifts in simcha.</ref> | # There is a minhag to give gelt or money to children on Chanuka.<ref>[http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=33683&st=&pgnum=485 Moed LeKol Chai 27:77] offers a kabbalistic reason for giving Talmidei Chachamim and children monetary gifts on Chanuka. [http://www.he.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/598679 chabad.org] notes that the chabad minhag is to give gelt to children. Piskei Teshuvot 670:3 records that such was the practice of the steipler. A possible source for giving gifts on Chanuka is the Rambam (Chanuka 3:3) who writes that there's a mitzvah of simcha on Chanuka and regarding Yom Tov the Rambam (Yom Tov 6:18) includes giving gifts in simcha.</ref> | ||
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* [http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/103084/jewish/Why-the-Gelt.htm#footnote2a103084 Chabad.org] presents another 2 reasons including | * [http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/103084/jewish/Why-the-Gelt.htm#footnote2a103084 Chabad.org] presents another 2 reasons including | ||
# The halacha is that you may not benefit from the Chanuka candles even to look at the image on a coin. To remind ourselves of this halacha we give Chanuka gelt (Likutei Levi Yitzchak, Igrot, p. 358). | # The halacha is that you may not benefit from the Chanuka candles even to look at the image on a coin. To remind ourselves of this halacha we give Chanuka gelt (Likutei Levi Yitzchak, Igrot, p. 358). | ||
# The Greeks believed in materialism as an ends into itself. Our victory over the Greeks showed that we can channel the good in | # The Greeks believed in materialism as an ends into itself. Our victory over the Greeks showed that we can channel the good in physicality towards spirituality. Hence we give gelt on Chanuka [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14935&st=&pgnum=299 (Likutei Sichot, vol. 10, p. 291)].</ref> | ||
==Links== | |||
* [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/56810 Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Chanukah (Hebrew 5773)] | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
