But eventually the kids also wanted to keep some money for themselves surprise! Chanukah gelt became to be both a donation to commemorate the Holiday of Lights and a gift to children. Back in the days it started as a gift of small coins, however, now there is no "cap" on the gift amount. Although, many Rabbis still recommend just coin gifts, where appropriate, to remain true to the tradition. Chanukah Gelt is given to children after lighting the menorah.
The children should be encouraged to give charity from a portion of their money. Chanukah gelt is a beautiful custom that adds to the children's happiness and festive spirit. In the beginning of 20th century one of the American confectionary manufacturers came up with the idea of making Chanukah Gelt from chocolate.
Money, in and of itself, has virtually no value, but its potential is almost limitless. In the formative years of Jewish history, Jacob had a bully for a brother named Esau. Eventually the situation became so bad at home that Jacob had to run away from his brother, who wanted to kill him. Years later, Esau and his thugs finally caught up with Jacob. During the night before their fateful reunion, Jacob quietly moved his entire family across the river near where they had camped.
Then, Jacob went back to the other side of the river. This teaches us that the righteous care more about their money than their own lives. Think about it. Jacob goes back to retrieve some small jars and somehow that act is so significant that it enables the Maccabees, over 1, years later, to find the one remaining jar of oil that would be the source of the Chanukah miracle.
Additionally, we learn from this episode how important money is to righteous people. On the surface, it was preposterous for the Jews to resist the Greeks.
Hellenism was the wave of the future and militarily no one could stand in the Greeks' path, certainly not a band of renegade Jews. But the Jewish people knew that they were an eternal people. A people whose message of values was destined to last forever and have a world-shaping impact. A tiny and ill-equipped people was prepared to take on the superpower of its day, all because they believed in the potential of Jewish destiny.
They believed that no matter how dire things looked, there exists within the Jewish soul, the ability to vanquish the mightiest of foes and fulfill their own mission of being "A light unto the nations. When we light our menorahs, we must look closely at those tiny flames and contemplate the world of potential. Where others see darkness, we are called to see light. We need to look at our children, look beyond the problems and the quarrels, and see potential.
We need to look at one another, beyond the faults and the foibles, and see potential. Answered by. All of that history and tradition resides in your chocolate gelt.
Ancient Israelite Coins One of the early Israelite coins, produced during the rule of Antigonus Matityahu 40—37 BCE , the last in this line of Hasmonean kings, portrays a seven-branched menorah candelabrum on one side and the shewbread offering on the other, each symbol a reminder of the centrality of the ancient Jerusalem Temple to the Jewish people and the victory of the Maccabees over the Hellenists.
Hanukkah Jewish History. View All Posts From Author. Related Questions How do you spell Hanukkah? Does a menorah have to have a specific design? The tradition of gifting gelt dates back to ancient times, to the origins of Hanukkah. Currently, the most common presentation is foil-wrapped chocolate coins that are sold in mesh bags. When children are given real money, they are often taught to give away a portion to the poor. This is a way to teach children about tzedakah, the Jewish tradition of charity.
Cite this Article Format. Pelaia, Ariela. Definition and History of the Tradition. What Is Gelt? Dates, Traditions, Story. The Bat Mitzvah Ceremony and Celebration. Greetings for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Passover Observance in Israel and the Diaspora. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for LearnReligions.
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