Hanukkah gelt

Hanukkah gelt is a special part of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. "Gelt" means money in German. During Hanukkah, people often give gifts of money to children and sometimes to teachers.

In the past, Hanukkah gelt was real money. But today, many people give chocolate coins that look like money. These chocolate coins are wrapped in gold or silver paper. They are a fun treat for children during Hanukkah.

A popular game with Hanukkah gelt is Dreidel. Dreidel is a simple game with a four-sided spinning top. Families enjoy playing this game together while celebrating Hanukkah. Hanukkah gelt makes the holiday even more joyful.

History

The tradition of giving money, called Hanukkah gelt, to children is very old. It started in the 1600s with Polish Jews who gave money to children to share with their teachers. Later, children kept some of the money for themselves, and even teenage boys began receiving gifts. Rabbis liked this custom because it helped tell the story of the Hanukkah miracle.

Today, chocolate coins are popular Hanukkah gifts. In the 1920s, an American candy company named Loft’s made the first chocolate gelt. They wrapped it in gold or silver foil to look like real coins. Now, many chocolate Hanukkah coins come from companies in the Netherlands and Israel, with special gourmet versions made all over the world.

Main article: Chocolate coin

Customs

During Hanukkah, parents often give children chocolate coins called gelt. They are fun to eat and use, especially with the dreidel game. Some families give real money as Hanukkah gifts. In Israel, many parents do this. In Hasidic communities, special leaders called Rebbes give out small coins to visitors for good luck.

Jewish law says money cannot be handled on the Sabbath. So, the time for giving Hanukkah gelt depends on the day of the week.