 Chocolate gelt | |
| Alternative names | Gelt, Dmei chanukah |
|---|---|
| Type | Chocolate |
| Main ingredients | Chocolate |
Hanukkah gelt (Yiddish:חנוכה געלטḥanukah gelt;Hebrew:דמי חנוכהdmei ḥanukah 'Hanukkah money'), also known asgelt (German:Geld), is money given as presents during theJewishfestival ofHanukkah. It is typically given to children and sometimes teachers, often in conjunction with the game ofDreidel. In the 20th century, candy manufacturers started selling Hanukkah-themedchocolate coins wrapped in gold or silver foil, as a substitute or supplement to real money gifts.
Rabbi A. P. Bloch has written that
"The tradition of giving money (Chanukah gelt) to children is of long standing. The custom had its origin in the 17th-century practice ofPolish Jewry to give money to their small children for distribution to their teachers. In time, as children demanded their due, money was also given to children to keep for themselves. Teenage boys soon came in for their share. According toMagen Avraham (18th century), it was the custom for poor yeshiva students to visit homes of Jewish benefactors who dispensed Chanukah money (Orach Chaim 670). The rabbis approved of the custom of giving money on Chanukah because it publicized the story of the miracle of the oil."[1]
According to popular legend, it is linked to the miraculous victory of theMaccabees over the ancient Greeks. To celebrate their freedom, theHasmoneans minted nationalcoins.[2] It may also have begun in 18th-century Eastern Europe as a token of gratitude toward religious teachers, similar to the custom oftipping service people on Christmas.[2] In 1958, theBank of Israel issued commemorative coins for use as Hanukkah gelt. That year, the coin bore the image of the samemenorah that appeared on Maccabean coins 2,000 years ago.[3]
Americanchocolatiers of the 20th century picked up on the gift/coin concept by creating chocolategelt. In the 1920s,Loft's, an American candy company, produced the first chocolate gelt, wrapped in gold orsilver foil in mesh pouches resemblingmoney bags.[2] Loft's was followed by another US-based company calledBartons.[4]
Today most of the chocolate Hanukkah gelt, sometimes calledgeld,[2] sold in the United States is imported, including from Dutch firms Steenland Chocolate and theIsraeli firmsElite and Carmit.[2] Gourmet versions of chocolate gelt have been produced in the United States and Europe as well.[2]
Parents often give children chocolate gelt to playdreidel with. In terms of actualgelt (money), parents and grandparents or other relatives may give sums of money as an official Hanukkah gift. According to a survey done in 2006, 74 percent of parents in Israel give their children Chanukah gelt.[5]
In Hasidic communities, theRebbes distribute coins to those who visit them during Hanukkah. Hasidic Jews consider this to be an auspicious blessing from the Rebbe, and asegulah for success. The amount is usually in small coins.[citation needed]
Sincemoney cannot be handled on the Sabbath, the timing of giving Chanukah gelt is limited by some to only one day of the week, since the fourth day can never occur on a Friday and the fifth lighting does not ever come on the Shabbat.[6]
74% of the households in Israel tend to give Chanukah gelt - Consumer
neither .. Friday night or Shabbos
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