14

Is there a Jewish source for Chanuka gifts?

HodofHod
  • 21,056
  • 5
  • 91
  • 156
Gershon Gold
  • 139,471
  • 12
  • 231
  • 553

1 Answers1

22

In the Emes Leyaakov on Shulchan Aruch on Siman 670, Reb Yaakov says that giving gifts on Chanukah is not Chukas Hagoyim, it is a Jewish Minhag and they took it from us. The reason for it is that they sent a gift with the children to the Rebbeim, and the children got gifts too because they were the shluchim. A much earlier sefer, Chanukas Hatorah, a sefer the Magen Avraham quotes in Hilchos Chanukah, speaks of giving Chanukah GIFTS.

wfb
  • 14,504
  • 43
  • 76
SimchasTorah
  • 33,218
  • 1
  • 52
  • 184