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<div class="elementToProof"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis</span></div>
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<p><strong><strong class="ContentPasted0">Q. What is the reason that children receive Chanukah
</strong></strong><em class="ContentPasted0">Gelt</em><strong><strong class="ContentPasted0">, special monetary gifts, on Chanukah? Why do some have a custom to give Chanukah
<em class="ContentPasted0">Gelt </em>only on the 5th night of Chanukah?</strong></strong></p>
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<p class="ContentPasted0">A. The word Chanukah is related to the word <em class="ContentPasted0">
chinuch</em> (education). The Greeks wanted to make us forget our holy Torah. When they were defeated, it was necessary to begin reeducating the Jewish people, especially the children. Monetary gifts were given to the children with the intention of strengthening
their love of Torah. As a reminder of these past events it has become a tradition to give monetary gifts during Chanukah to our precious children (Sifsei Chaim, Moadim vol. 2, p.134 in the name of the Ponovizher Rav zt”l).</p>
<p class="ContentPasted0">Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, <em class="ContentPasted0">zt”l</em> offered a slightly different explanation. Initially the
<em class="ContentPasted0">minhag</em> was to give a monetary gift to the child’s rebbe on Chanukah because he played an integral role in the chinuch process. Subsequently, the custom evolved and the “delivery boy” was given a gift as well (Emes L’Yaakov Siman
670 in the footnote).</p>
<p class="ContentPasted0">Rav Belsky <em class="ContentPasted0">zt”l</em> related that Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky
<em class="ContentPasted0">zt”l</em> used to give money to his children on the fifth night of Chanukah (see Piskei Halacha Vol. 1 p. 120). Many choose the fifth night for Chanukah
<em class="ContentPasted0">Gelt</em> distribution since this night can never fall on Shabbos, when the distribution of money would be prohibited.</p>
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Professor Yitzchok Levine<br>
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