chanukah gift exchange

Asked by aharon bar berit · January 19, 2006 · Holidays

Question

Kavod Harav:I once heard from a Sefaradi (Turkish) Rabbi that the custom of exchanging gifts on Chanukah is based on the fact that the Torah reading for the week is "Miketz," which tells us of the exchange of gifts between Yosef and his brothers.It sounded like an interesting explanation,but I haven't found a written source mentioning it.Are you familiar with one?

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

Sounds interesting. If SEfardim had this Minhag also, then it probably didn't come from X-mas. In any case, it is harmless. AA