Jewish kids are given sweet and delicious chocolate coins or money during a Jewish festival called Hanukkah. It has been a practice since the seventeenth century to give Chanukah gelt or money to children. Small children were given money for provision to their teachers by the Polish Jewry. Underprivileged yeshiva students have been accustomed to visiting homes of Jewish benefactors who disseminate Chanukah money. The custom on giving money on Chanukah has been approved by the rabbis because it publicized the story of the miracle of the oil. The barely credible triumph of the Maccabeans over theold Greek as told by an old popular story was associated with the money giving ceremony. Minting national coins was done by the Hasmoneas to celebrate their freedom. A great possibility that it originated from Eastern Europe during the eighteenth century as a token of gratitude toward religious teachers as to the custom of sharing tip to service people on Christmas. Number of dedicatory coins was given out by the Bank of Israel in 1958 to be enjoyed as Hanukkah gelt. The commemorative coins take on the image of the same menorah that existed in Maccabean coins 2000 years ago from its existence. The chocolate gelt was created out from the gift and coin concept that inspired the American chocolate makers, as far as history mattered. The first chocolate money was created by an American candy company named Loft, covered in gold or silver foil in mesh pouches akin to that of money bags. In Belgium and the Netherlands, chocolate coins are given to children as part of the St.Nicholas holiday. Most of the chocolate coins sold today in the United States are imported from Israel. Children often times received chocolate coins from older relatives to play with. Hanukkah presents are sometimes given in form of real cash from older family members like parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents. As early as I could remember, my mother does not allow us to receive money from their co-workers who visit us at home; she thinks it’s embarrassing yet it’s really an awesome Jewish tradition.
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