Additional Customs

It has also been customary in many Jewish communities to focus public concern on Chanukah on matters affecting the education of the children. Community officials would gather to discuss methods to enhance the study of Torah among the children as well as in the community as a whole, for the Hebrew root of the word Chanukah connotes "education" as well as "inauguration," and the essence of Jewish education is teaching Torah to the children.

For this reason it is traditional for fathers to give "Chanukah gelt" to their children, as if to say: "These gifts are given to you today so that you will accept the yoke of Torah forever."

It was also traditional on Chanukah for rabbis to travel to all the outlying Jewish communities to teach Torah and the fear of Heaven. The Jews in these rural villages would draw inspiration from these visits for the entire year.

The widespread custom that children have of playing dreidel [spinning the Chanukah top] also reflects the theme of Chanukah. Because the children have the "Chanukah gelt" that they receive from their parents, and because the lighting of the Chanukah lights causes some cessation of Torah study during the long winter nights, it is as if we are saying to the children: "Relax tonight and spend your hours happily, so that you can accept the yoke of Torah and the exertion required for the fulfillment of the mitzvot, after Chanukah. And even now, as you play, do not forget the miracles and wonders wrought by G-d on our behalf." For this reason, the dreidels are inscribed with the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, heh, and peh, the initial letters of the words nes gadol hayah poh – "a great miracle occurred here." Outside the Land of Israel, it is customary to replace the peh with a shin, the initial letter of the word sham – "there," in Eretz Yisrael. Thus, even when the children are playing, the remembrance of the miracle of Chanukah is woven into their games.

The customs of Chanukah have an educational objective for children as well as for adults. They recall God's loving kindness towards His people and bring Israel to offer thanksgiving and praise to Him and to accept His Torah and mitzvot upon themselves.