Special Chanuka Edition

Chanukah Gelt for Children

Question

I see children going around Yerushalayim on Chanukah collecting Chanukah gelt. I was wondering if there is a source for this custom. If there is a valid source for this custom, should I give money to every child who comes by and asks me? Is there a deeper meaning to this custom that I should be aware of?

Thank you.

L. S.

Rav Auerbach

The Magein Avrohom (670) brings the custom to give demei Chanukah to ne’arim ha’aniyim, needy children, and cites the Sefer Chanukas Habayis, which brings a reason for this. That sefer explains that the word Chanukah is tzedakah when spelled with At-Bash (the letter alef is substituted with tof, bais with shin, etc.). This teaches us that there is a special mitzvah to give tzedakah on Chanukah, for distributing this money helps publicize the miracle of Chanukah.

While the Magein Avrohom mentions needy children, when the Mishnah Berurah (670:1) cites this, he only brings the custom to give tzedakah. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (139:1) adds that it should be given especially to those who learn Torah who need tzedakah.

However, some explain that we should give Chanukah gelt to any child who asks in order not to embarrass the impoverished who ask (Knesses Yechezkel). The Ponovezher Rov explains that this is to encourage them to learn Torah (cited in Sifsei Chaim, Moadim 2, p. 134).

I believe that we can add that Chazal teach us that one of the decrees of the Yevonim was not to give tzedakah. By giving Chanukah gelt, we remember that decree and how important giving tzedakah is. If children ask you for money, you should give them a small amount, e.g., one shekel (approximately 25 cents). (I am in touch with many lomdei Torah who would benefit from Chanukah gelt, and I can distribute it on Chanukah for whomever wishes for me to do so.)

Reciting Shehecheyanu on the Menorah After a Hospital Stay

Question

I will be in the hospital the first days of Chanukah and my wife will be lighting the menorah for me at home. When I get back home, should I recite the brocha of Shehecheyanu on my hadlakah?

R. N.

Rav Auerbach

My father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l, was in the hospital and got out before the last day of Chanukah, and when he lit the last night, he took a fruit and made Shehecheyanu during the hadlakah. I believe that you should do this as well.

Lighting a Menorah in a Basement Window

Question

I live in a low basement apartment, and the place where my window is positioned is flush to street level. This means that when I light my menorah in that window, even though to me it appears to be high off the ground, to the people passing through the reshus horabim it is lower than three tefachim from the pavement. Since the menorah is meant to be placed above three tefachim from the street, am I allowed to light my menorah in this window?

Rav Auerbach

Chazal teach us that you should not light below three tefachim, for it is not nikar, apparent, that it is being lit for the sake of the mitzvah of hadlakah. Today, things have changed drastically. Today that we use electric lighting, no one would make a mistake and think that one is lighting a menorah for the sake of light. Based on this, my father, Rav Shlomo Zalman, ruled that in a case of great need, like yours, one can light within three tefachim of the ground.

However, as much as I do not like to disagree with the rulings of my father, in this case I don’t believe that you should light in the window that is parallel to the street. The Vilna Gaon has already taught us that when Chazal made a decree, there could be many reasons for it, and that may be the case in this halacha. Since there is no proof from the poskim that this halacha has changed, I rule that if the menorah is not above three tefachim of the reshus horabim, you should not light there.