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I can’t see anything wrong with re-gifting, other than getting caught. In fact, if it’s not found out, it’s a fine idea. If something doesn’t have much meaning to you, but has meaning to someone else, I think there’s no reason why not to.
– Rabbi Ben Zion Shafier is founder of The Shmuz and author of 10 Really Dumb Mistakes That Very Smart Couples Make (available at theshmuz.com).
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At the outset, the entire matter of gifting on Chanukah and especially Chanukah gelt for children is an outgrowth of the moneys that were distributed to the poor (See Mishna Berurah 670, s’k 1, citing Pri Megadim). Encyclopedia Meir Nasiv also cites it. Otzar Erchei Hayahadus states, therefore, that it is better to distribute to the poor on Chanukah. Yet if such has become our custom today to give a gift on Chanukah, that is probably fine too, but is no real mitzvah.
Now concerning re-gifting, which means taking the gift one received and giving it to a third party, there should be nothing wrong. Yet one might consider that the gifter might have put much effort and consideration into the particular gift. Let’s imagine that the next recipient re-gifts and sends it back to the original gifter.
Even a gift that is for a specific time period such as a lulav and esrog that one is gifted with the proviso that it is returned after one has discharged the mitzvah – nevertheless for that period it is considered his completely, sufficient to recite a blessing with Hashem’s name. Thus, surely a gift that is given absolutely without any provisions, one should have no qualms in re-gifting to another if it is not to one’s taste. But, as mentioned, take care not to give to someone who you think might give it back to the original party. This is really all a matter of common sense.
– Rabbi Yaakov Klass is chairman of the Presidium of the Rabbinical Alliance of America; rav of Congregation K’hal Bnei Matisyahu in Flatbush, Brooklyn; and Torah editor of The Jewish Press. He can be contacted at [email protected] and [email protected].