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What is a Good Hanukkah Gift?

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday also known as the Festival of Lights that lasts for eight days and is usually celebrated by giving gifts. So what is a good Hanukkah gift? Traditionally a menorah or Hanukkah gelt would be a wonderful first Hanukkah gift. A menorah is a nine armed candlestick and one candle is lit each night until finally all eight candles are lit by the eighth night. The extra or ninth candle are a Shamash, which is "guard" in Hebrew. This candle is lit to light the other candles with.

Hanukkah gelt is the gift of some type of money for Hanukkah . This can be real money i.e., a savings bond, cash, check, or even pretend money like chocolate coins. What child do you know that doesn't like chocolate? Or better yet doesn't like money? Hanukkah gelt has been a traditional Hanukkah gift and is important to children in teaching the tradition of Hanukkah, which is to increase charity and good deeds, by giving.

It may seem a little like bribery to give Hanukkah gelt, but only because it is! Giving Hanukkah gelt as a Hanukkah gift is an important component of the process of educating. Until a child has reached a sufficient age and fully appreciates the Torah, then incentives such as Hanukkah gelt are typically used to gain attention. Once the true meaning is understood other items are typically given as gifts. This is a smart approach to obtain the attention from a child.

The giving of Hanukkah gifts is equally important and is typically a very well thought out an organized event. Hanukkah gifts are given each night over the eight days, and in some families, Hanukkah gelt is given each night too. However usually as Hanukkah gifts are given out on the fourth or fifth night, the monetary Hanukkah gifts are increased to larger amounts.
Other traditional Hanukkah gifts such as the dreidl are well known throughout the world. A dreidl is a four sided spinning top and has a letter from the Hebrew alphabet on each side. It is used for a gambling game called Teetotum, and each letter has a different meaning. Traditionally a dreidl is given with a roll of pennies for gambling with. The letters on the dreidl form an acronym, "Nes Gadol Haya Sham" which means "A great miracle happened here. The statement refers to the miracle that occurred in Israel. Another popular gift is a gift of generosity, where children are often taught to "give" themselves by taking gifts to homeless shelter or giving gifts to their family members.

As with any other holiday there are traditional and non traditional gifts, and Hanukkah gifts are no exception. Whether you give Chanukah gelt as a Hanukkah gift, or you give a sweater, there is no wrong Hanukkah gift to give, since it comes from the heart. When your gift is well thought out and given with genuine love, then the gift is always perfect.

Hanukkah is one of the most anticipated holidays of the Jewish year. People look forward to the exchanging of Hanukkah gifts, spinning the dreidel, lighting the menorah, and eating some delicious Hanukkah food. Some people host Chanukah parties, while some prefer to stay at home. No matter which group you fall into, you can’t make it through the holiday without these essential Hanukkah food dishes:

Sufganiyot:

Also known as jelly doughnuts. These delicious lightweight doughnuts are often topped with powdered sugar or different flavor icings. If you are not a jelly person, there are also sufganiyot available that are filled with chocolate or nothing at all. It is a great treat for the kids!

Potato Latkes:

There is never a need for an excuse to enjoy some crunchy potato latkes, but Hanukkah serves as a great one! These are often served with yummy homemade applesauce to balance the salty and sweet flavors.

Chanukah Gelt:

Who doesn’t love money? Gelt, which means money in Yiddish, are chocolate coins that often are bet in a game of dreidel. If you don’t know the rules to this game of chance, just look out for the Hebrew letter gimmel, and the whole pot becomes yours.

Applesauce:

This side dish complements your latkes and can double as a delicious and nutritious dessert. Applesauce can be enjoyed straight from the store bought bottle to the homemade version cooling in the pot.

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday where it is encouraged to eat deep-fried and oily foods. Hanukkah only comes once a year (yes, it does last eight days), and it is okay to enjoy your favorite holiday foods while watching portion sizes and avoid going for thirds. Many people prefer the real stuff, but for those that don’t, there are many other healthy variations of your favorite Hannukah foods, such as the vegetable patty instead of the carb filled potato pancake.

We would love to hear from you. What is your favorite Hanukkah Food?.

It’s traditional to invite family members and friends over to celebrate in Hanukkah, the miracle of lights. Whether you are a throwing a Hanukkah party for the first time, or are already a seasoned professional, there are always traditional Hanukkah foods and activities you want to make sure you have.

People typically prefer to buy decorations for a Hanukkah Party. Many times you can just search for printable signs and pictures. If you opt for a fancier approach, you can go to a Judaica store in your neighborhood or any holiday gift shop, and purchase a few Hanukkah themed decorations. Whether it be dreidel-printed tablecloths, to a dangling menorah as ceiling décor, there are lots of options to choose from.

It is also important not to forget the Hanukkah music. The music that is played is essential to get the mood going at your Hanukkah party. You may be able to pick up a Hanukkah party mix at your local Judaica store, but buying it online is a great option too. Make sure the mix has the English Hanukkah Song favorite (Oh dreidel, dreidel) and the Hebrew ones as well (Al HaNisim and Ma Oz Tzur). Just be careful, your guests make break out dancing to these head bopping tunes, so make sure you are wearing your dancing shoes!

After your house is all set up with twinkling Hanukkah menorah lights with the Hanukkah music playing in the background, you are all set up to cook your famous Hanukkah latkes, and your other (just as famous) Hanukkah foods. If you are short on time, Hanukkah Party food sets are available for purchase . Make sure your list includes applesauce (to accompany those latkes), sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and Hanukkah gelt (chocolate money). It is also helpful to make extra helpings of these, because they will for sure be a hit!

Another very important aspect of a Hanukkah party is the activity that you provide for your guests. You may prefer to just have them for the kids, but adults love games too. Printable Hanukkah-themed bingo cards are available online . You can play for real money, or the edible chocolate version (Hanukkah gelt). Make sure to not forget to play the traditional game of Hanukkah dreidel. Dreidel is essential for any authentic Hanukkah party. It may be helpful to spread little dreidels on tables where your guests will be sitting. It is hard to resist the urge to spin one of those guys.

If you are having a close group of people as your guests, it may be fun to play Mystery Maccabi. This game entails you to have each of your guests pick a name from a hat. Each name they receive is the person they are entitled to shop for. This way each person gets a Hanukkah gift, there is an element of surprise, and it serves as a fun Hanukkah activity. Some people prefer to set limits of how much you should spend on a gift. You can decide what works best with your group.

After the candles from your Hanukkah menorah have extinguished and it is time to go home, make sure your guests aren’t leaving empty handed. Hanukkah gelt is a popular and inexpensive way to send your guests home happy. You can also give out a mini assortment of Hanukkah treats or some Hanukkah lollipops You can also purchase (or bake) Hanukkah-themed cookies , if you would like.

This is a sure way to make your Hanukkah party a hit. When your Hanukkah candles are burning softly in the background, and your house smells of sweet latkes and sufganiyot, there is no better time to get together with friends and family to celebrate.

But remember, if your party takes place before sundown make sure not to forget to light the Hanukkah candles together as the sun sets.

Hanukkah Gift Baskets	Hanukkah Gifts For Kids	Chanukah Gelt - Chocolate Coins
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