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Minhagim of Chanukah: Difference between revisions
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# 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> | ||
==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 | # 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> | ||
# Many poskim consider this a permissible practice and isn't a violation of following the ways of goyim ([[Bechukotayhem Lo Telechu]]).<ref>Avnei Yishfeh 1:129 writes that there's no violation of following non-Jewish practices in giving Chanuka gelt since there's a reason for this practice and the prohibition of [[Bechukotayhem]] only applies to a nonsensical practice. Mishnat Aharon (p. 117) cites this. A few websites including [http://www.bogreytsava.co.il/145379/%D7%93%D7%9E%D7%99-%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%94 Torah Acheri HaTzava] and [http://www.kipa.co.il/ask/show/77118-%D7%9E%D7%AA%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%94---%D7%94%D7%90%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D kipa.co.il] believe that there's no prohibition of following the ways of non-Jews when giving gifts on Chanuka since it isn't religious and has Jewish sources. On the other hand, Rav Hershel Schachter [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/821721/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Chanuka_and_the_Development_of_the_Torah_She'Baal_Peh# (Chanuka and the Development of the Torah She'Baal Peh (min 39-41))] explains that the old minhag was to give teachers of Torah a little extra money on Chanuka but the modern America practice of giving presents is based on the Christian practice surrounding Santa Claus. | # Many poskim consider this a permissible practice and isn't a violation of following the ways of goyim ([[Bechukotayhem Lo Telechu]]). See the footnote for a list of reasons as to the basis of this minhag. <ref>Avnei Yishfeh 1:129 writes that there's no violation of following non-Jewish practices in giving Chanuka gelt since there's a reason for this practice and the prohibition of [[Bechukotayhem]] only applies to a nonsensical practice. Mishnat Aharon (p. 117) cites this. A few websites including [http://www.bogreytsava.co.il/145379/%D7%93%D7%9E%D7%99-%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%94 Torah Acheri HaTzava] and [http://www.kipa.co.il/ask/show/77118-%D7%9E%D7%AA%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%94---%D7%94%D7%90%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D kipa.co.il] believe that there's no prohibition of following the ways of non-Jews when giving gifts on Chanuka since it isn't religious and has Jewish sources. On the other hand, Rav Hershel Schachter [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/821721/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Chanuka_and_the_Development_of_the_Torah_She'Baal_Peh# (Chanuka and the Development of the Torah She'Baal Peh (min 39-41))] explains that the old minhag was to give teachers of Torah a little extra money on Chanuka but the modern America practice of giving presents is based on the Christian practice surrounding Santa Claus. | ||
* Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/752761/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Chanukah_Gelt_and_Gifts in a shiur on yutorah] offers 7 reasons for the practice of giving presents on Chanuka: | * Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/752761/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Chanukah_Gelt_and_Gifts in a shiur on yutorah] offers 7 reasons for the practice of giving presents on Chanuka: | ||
# There is an aspect of simcha on Chanuka (Rambam Chanuka 3:3) and a way of fulfilling simcha is by giving children what they like (Rambam Hilchot Yom Tov 6:17-18). | # There is an aspect of simcha on Chanuka (Rambam Chanuka 3:3) and a way of fulfilling simcha is by giving children what they like (Rambam Hilchot Yom Tov 6:17-18). | ||
# There is an idea to give Tzedaka to poor children on Chanuka (Magen Avraham 670, Chanukat HaBayit (Machon Nachalat Tzvi p. 71), Rivevot Efraim 1:440:3). The Belzer Rebbe extended that to giving money to all children so as not to embarrass the poor (Chayim Sheyesh Bahem Moedei Hashana, by Rabbi Yitzchak Gross, p. 248). | # There is an idea to give Tzedaka to poor children on Chanuka (Magen Avraham 670, Chanukat HaBayit (Machon Nachalat Tzvi p. 71), Rivevot Efraim 1:440:3). The Belzer Rebbe extended that to giving money to all children so as not to embarrass the poor (Chayim Sheyesh Bahem Moedei Hashana, by Rabbi Yitzchak Gross, p. 248). | ||
# Emet LeYakov OC 670 suggests that the practice began when the parents gave the children money to give the teachers who taught Torah, so that Torah was supported on Chanuka. In order that the children not feel bad, the parents also gave them a portion of the money to keep. | # Emet LeYakov OC 670 suggests that the practice began when the parents gave the children money to give the teachers who taught Torah, so that Torah was supported on Chanuka. In order that the children not feel bad, the parents also gave them a portion of the money to keep. | ||
# Siftei Chayim (Moadim, vol 2. p. 134, Rabbi Friedlander) explains that since the Greeks outlawed learning Torah and children couldn't learn, after the war parents had to bribe them to learn again. As a way of remembering that we give children gelt today. | # Siftei Chayim (Moadim, vol 2. p. 134, Rabbi Friedlander) explains that since the Greeks outlawed learning Torah and children couldn't learn, after the war parents had to bribe them to learn again. As a way of remembering that we give children gelt today. This can also be found in Likutei Levi Yitzchak (Igrot, p. 358). | ||
# [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=3863&st=&pgnum=122 Binat Yisrael (Rabbi Yisrael Shapiro, p. 63a)] explains that the more we give towards a holiday the more we cherish it. | # [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=3863&st=&pgnum=122 Binat Yisrael (Rabbi Yisrael Shapiro, p. 63a)] explains that the more we give towards a holiday the more we cherish it. | ||
# Rabbi Flug quotes that after the war the winners would distribute the loot to the soldiers and poor. Giving gelt is a way to commemorate winning the war. | # Rabbi Flug quotes that after the war the winners would distribute the loot to the soldiers and poor. Giving gelt is a way to commemorate winning the war. | ||
# After the war, Antiochus allowed Israel to mint their own coins, so they would distribute these coins around Chanuka time in order to remember the Chanuka miracle of the war. </ref> | # After the war, Antiochus allowed Israel to mint their own coins, so they would distribute these coins around Chanuka time in order to remember the Chanuka miracle of the war. | ||
* [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 Greeks believed in materialism as an ends into itself. Our victory over the Greeks showed that we can channel the good in physciality towards spirituality. Hence we give gelt on Chanuka (Likutei Sichot, vol. 10, p. 291).</ref> | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
