Hanukka gelt is more popular than presents and the eight-day holiday is still not the most popular gift-giving holiday in the land of the Maccabees, according to retailers gearing up for the festival of lights. A poll taken by Panorama Market Research, commissioned by toy importer Lafayette Agencies, found that 34.3 percent of Israeli adults are planning on spending up to NIS 50 for Hanukka presents, while 27% of Israeli adults were planning on spending up to NIS 100, and 26.8% were planning on spending more than NIS 150 on their little ones.

What do Israelis buy during Hanukka? Deep-fried sufganiyot (doughnuts) filled with jelly and caramel, chocolates, candles and tickets for activities to occupy the children during the school holiday. More than a quarter of a million Israeli children and parents will see at least one Hanukka show during the eight-day holiday, spending NIS 99 to NIS 541 per ticket and most Israeli malls invest heavily in Hanukka activities, but charging only several shekels per child.

The average Israeli spends around NIS 115 on a Hanukka toy, says [Shimon Hahn], but most of the spending comes from children who come to the stores with their Hanukka gelt. The top sellers? Hasbro's NIS 240 Beyblade Remote Control Top, Bratz dolls for NIS 89.90 and Milton Bradley board games, such as Monopoly and Risk, ranging in price from NIS 99 to NIS 130.