Reply To: what is the origin of chanukah gifts?

The Gra rejects the Ran and Maharit’s pshat because the Gemara does not seem to fit in with their understanding of what the parameters of chukas hagoy is. (The Maharam Shick does resolve these diffuculties, though, See Shu”t YD 165) The Seriedei Aish 3:93 (new editions-YD 39 Anaf 2) writes that the shita of the Gra is in contrast with the rest of the Rishonim. We do not pasken like the Gra’s pshat of chukas hagoy.