Is there a Jewish source for Chanuka gifts?
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The Emes Layackov on Shulchan Aruch on Siman 670 Reb Yackov says that Giving gifts on Chanukah is not Chukas Hagoyim it is a Jewish Minhag and they took it from us,The reason is they sent with the children a gift to the Rebbeim and the children got too because they were the shluchim. A much earlier Sefer Chanukas Hatorah a sefer the Magen Avrahom Quotes in Hilchos Chanukah speaks of giving Chanukah GIFTS. |
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Well see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah_gelt for Chanuka Gelt (money). As for gifts, it probably came because it's similar to money (money and gifts usually go together). Wikipedia says "Though it was traditional among Ashkenazi Jews to give "gelt" or money coins to children during Hanukkah, in many families this has changed into gifts in order to prevent Jewish children from feeling left out of the Christmas gift giving," but there's no source... |
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