Earliest and Latest time to light Chanukah Candles: Difference between revisions

* However Pri [[Chadash]] 672 and Buir HaGra O”C 672:1 (see also Beiur HaGra O"C 261 and Y”D 266:17, and Maaseh Rav 235) hold that one should light at sunset. Mishna Brurah 672:1 quotes both the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch and Gra and then writes that if one davens at Tzet Hakochavim one may follow the opinion of the Gra even initially. See also Sh”t Az Nidabru 7:70. Rav Moshe Feinstein in Igrot Moshe O”C 4:101:6 and Rav Chaim Kanievsky in Yemeh [[Hallel]] VeHodah 12:8, say to light 10 minutes after sunset and have it last for a half hour before tzet hachovim and a half hour after tzet hachoavim. Torat HaMoadim 4:1 rules to light 15 minutes after [[shekiah]] [15 minutes is based on the geonim’s tzet hachochavim (3/4 [[mil]]) with the Rav Amram Goan’s lengh of a [[mil]] being 18 minutes, the fact that in the winter the [[shaot Zmaniot]] are shorter, and we add on a few minutes to be strict for Rabbi Yose’s opinion of Ben Hashemashot which only happens after Rabbi Yehuda’s finishes.]  

* Igrot Moshe 4:101:6 writes that one should light 10 minutes after sunset with enough oil to last an hour. Shemaytata DeMoshe 672 explains that Rav Moshe held that 10 minutes was sufficient time to be considered the Tzet Hakochavim of the Geonim and it is still within a half hour of sunset. Az Nidbaru 7:70 quotes Rav Aharon Kotler as having said that one should light 25 minutes after sunset. </ref>

# In general, one should not light earlier than [[Shekiyah]] or Tzet Hakochavim, as stated in the previous halacha, except on [[Friday afternoon]] of [[Chanukah]] because once it becomes [[Shabbat]], it will be forbidden to light. But if on a weeknight one will be unable to light after [[Shekiyah]] or Tzet Hakochavim and will miss the mitzvah totally, he should light after Plag HaMincha. Many poskim say that one may light with a bracha in this case, while others say that one should light without a bracha.<ref> The Rambam ([[Chanukah]] 4:5) and Bahag ([[Chanuka]] p. 25b) hold that one does not fulfill one’s obligation if one lights [[Chanukah]] candles prior to sunset. The Rashba ([[Shabbat]] 21b), however, writes that after the fact, if one lit them before sunset, one still fulfills one’s obligation. This is also the opinion of the Ran, Ritva, and Orchot Chaim ([[Chanukah]] #15). The Mishna Brurah 672:3 (Shaar HaTziyun 672:5) explains that the Shulchan Aruch 672:1 rules like the Rashba and one may light before sunset with a bracha. This is also the opinion of the Pri [[Chadash]] 672:1 s.v. VeYesh Mi SheOmer and Chaye Adam 154:18. Kaf HaChaim 672:10 however, holds that one shouldn’t make a bracha in such a case. See also the Levush, Bach, Kiseh Rachamim 63a, Siddur Bet Ovad 159b, Moed Kol Chai 27:26, Tefilah Ledavid, Pri Megadim M”Z 673:9, Sefer Yeraim 274, Shaarei Kneset HaGedolah 672:1, and Pri Megadim A”A 672:1. </ref>

# If someone lit earlier than [[Shekiah]] after Plag Hamincha, he should relight at the proper time of the mitzvah without a bracha. If one lit before Plag Hamincha should relight at the proper time with a bracha. <ref> Torat HaMoadim 4:3 writes that if one lit before [[Shekiyah]], one should relit at night because some Rishonim hold that one doesn't fulfill the mitzvah to light after Plag HaMincha (such as the Rambam and Bahag). However, he adds that one should relight without a bracha in deference to the opinions (Rashba, Ran, Ritva, and Orchot Chaim) who hold that one fulfills his mitzvah then. Torat HaMoadim concludes that if one lit before Plag Hamincha one should relight with a bracha because no one holds that one fulfill the mitzvah at that time. </ref>

# A boy, who regularly lights at Shkiah, who is becoming [[Bar Mitzvah]] a night of [[Chanukah]], can light at Shkiah as usual. Some say to light at [[Tzet HaKochavim]] even if usually lights at Shkiah. <ref> Sefer [[Chanukah]] of Rav Kenievsky 13:16, Sh”t Teshuvot Vehanhagot 2:337 against Rav Vosner in Kovetz Mebet Levi kislev 5757 says not to light until Tzet. Mikrei Kodesh ([[Chanukah]] 11:3) leaves it as a question. </ref>

# One shouldn’t delay lighting the [[Chanukah]] candles at the ideal time (see above), but if one didn't light until after the time that people left the marketplace, one should nonetheless light. However, while some say that one may only recite the bracha if some of the household members are awake, others hold that it’s proper to wake up some of the family, but if one can’t, he should still light with a bracha. <ref>  

# Someone who came home right before [[Olot HaShachar]] can light with a bracha even though it won’t be lit for 30 minutes during the night. Some say one should light without a bracha if there’s not 30 minutes for the candle to be light at night. <ref> Sh”t [[Shevet Halevi]] 8:156 writes that one can light with a bracha even if there’s not 30 minutes for the candles to burn before [[Olot Hashachar]]. He proves this from the simple language of S”A, Magen Avraham and Mishna Brurah (and all other poskim) that one can light all night until [[Olot HaShachar]]. So writes Sh”t Rivovot Efraim 5:582 in name of Sh”t Shem MeShimon 3 pg 120. Chazon Ovadiah ([[Chanukah]] pg 67) seems to agree because he quotes the Shevet HaLevi and no one who argues. Yalkut Yosef Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 672:2. However, Rav Elyashiv in Sefer [[Chanukah]] 13:13 and Torat HaYoledet 54:7 say not to light with a bracha unless there’s 30 minutes before [[Olot HaShachar]]. </ref>

# Some poskim hold that one should wait for his wife because of Shalom Bayit even if that means missing lighting precisely at the time for lighting. <ref> Emet LeYacov 677 in the footnote, Kovetz MeBet Levi kislev 5757, Rav Mordechai Willig (oral communication, Halachipedia Chanuka Packet 5775). </ref>  

# Sephardic poskim hold that it is preferable to light at the right time by asking your wife to light rather than light yourself after a half hour after Tzet Hakochavim. Ashkenazic poskim debate the matter. <ref>Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daat 3:51) writes that it is preferable to ask one’s wife to light for him at Tzeit HaKochavim, rather than light later at home by oneself. The idea of Mitzvah Bo Yoter Mbshelucho is only if you can fulfill it in an equally ideal fashion, however, since if you light later that is not ideal it is better to fulfill the mitzvah yourself now. Yalkut Yosef Chanuka p. 382 rules exactly the same thing for someone at work late he should ask his wife to light on time. Torat Hamoadim Chanuka 4:6 and Or Letzion 4:43:4 agree. He even extends it to the case where neither the husband or wife is home and he says that you should ask a neighbor to light for you. Mayan Omer v. 3 p. 343 also quotes Rav Ovadia as saying that you should ask your wife to light for you on time instead of later. However, he also quotes Rav Ovadia from personal communication that if the whole family is away until very late Rav Ovadia said it is better to light later when you get back rather than ask a neighbor to light for you as a shaliach. Mayan Omer distinguishes between the two cases because the wife is more shayach to your house to be yotzei there than a neighbor. Also, he says that since everyone is coming home later there's a mitzvah for them to see the candles so that's a reason to have them light later but if the wife can light earlier then at least she can see the candles. Mayan Omer quotes Ben Ish Chai in Rav Poalim YD 2:35 that is similar to Rav Ovadia's approach. (As a contradictory piece of evidence, Rav Eliyahu Shtarit in Rabbenu p. 30 quotes Rav Ovadia Yosef as having allowed him to light later than tzet hakoachim himself rather than have his wife light for him ontime. Also, he quotes Rav Dovid Yosef as saying that Rav Ovadia Yosef did that himself.)

* Rav Shternbuch (Teshuvot V’hanhagot 4:170) agrees, but adds that the husband should still light when he gets home. He may even recite the bracha if he had in mind not to fulfill his obligation earlier with his wife and some people in the house are still awake. Rav Vosner (Shevet Halevi 4:66) raises a doubt as to which is preferable, and concludes that it is probably preferable for the husband to light later that night by himself.</ref>

# One who didn’t light at night (before [[Olot HaShachar]]) can’t light during the day, but if one wants, one can light without a bracha. <ref> S”A 672:2. Siddur Rashi 116 pg 151 (quoting Teshuvat Rabbenu Yitzchak Bar Yehuda) says if one didn’t light during the night one can’t light during the day. Sh”t Maaseh Goenim 55 pg 43, Teshuvat Rashi 52, Machsor Vitri 237 pg 201, Sh”t Maharam MeRotenberg 634, Pardes HaGadol 199, Tur 672, Shibolei HaLeket 185, and Roke’ach 226 quote this as well. Ravyah 3:843 in name of Rabbenu Tam says one can light in the day if one didn’t light at night. Sh”t Hitorerut Teshuva 1:119 writes that since we light nowadays indoors one should light as long as the candle gives off light (before [[HaNetz]], when the sun’s light overwhelms the candles light). However, Rav Ovadyah in Kol Sinai (kislev 5725) and Torat HaMoadim 4:5 argue that even though one should light to satisfy all opinions one isn’t allowed to make a bracha. </ref>

# Soldiers in the army who can’t light at night for security reasons and want to light while it’s still day and extinguish it before it gets dark can light without a bracha. <ref> Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 210) </ref>

# One who came home late and has to pray [[Mariv]] and light candles should pray first. <ref> Chazon Ovadyah ([[Chanukah]] pg 71) and Mishna Brurah (explained in Beiur Halacha) 672:1 brings two proofs :1)Tosfot ([[Shabbat]] 23b s.v. Hadar) says Tadir VeShEno Tadir, Tadir Kodem (the more common mitzvah comes first) overrides the mitzvah of Pirsume Nisa (publicizing the miracle. This is also the opinion of Meiri ([[Shabbat]] 23b) in name of Gedolei Dorot, Ran ([[Shabbat]] 23b), Ramban ([[Shabbat]] 22b), Rosh ([[Shabbat]] 2:13), Rashba ([[Shabbat]] 22b), Teshuvat Rashba 1:1070, Rabbenu Yerucham (p. 61d 2). Also, [[Kriyat Shema]] is Deoritta and lighting candles is Derabanan and Peni Yehoshua [[Brachot]] 51b, Nodeh BeYehuda Kama O”C 39,41e, and Sh”t Rama MePano 14 hold Deorittas precede a Derabanan. Even though the Shagat Aryeh argues that Deorittas don’t have any precedence over Derabanan’s, most of the achronim agree with the Peni Yehoshua including: Sh”t Imrei Esh O”C 53, Mispeh Eitan ([[Brachot]] 51b), Chatom Sofer (Pesachim 102b), and Sh”t Shev Yacov O”C 22. However Magen Avraham 672:5 rules one should light before praying [[Mariv]]. Because of Tadir and [[Shema]] is Deoritta, Sh”t Shevut Yacov 2:40, Sh”t Shev Yacov 22 quoted by Sh”t Orach LeChaim O”C 1, implied from Sh”t Lechem Seirim 21, Shoel UMeishiv (Riviah 2:219) and Chaim VeChesed Mosefia pg 90d:11 in name of Mahari MeTaril disagree with the Magen Avraham. Chidushei Maharsa 8b says that everyone agrees that if it’s close to [[Chatzot]] one should pray before lighting because preferably one should pray before [[Chatzot]]. [Bear Hetev 672:2 quotes Magen Avraham and then says so holds Knesset Hagedolah. However Shaarei Teshuva 672:1 says that the Bear Hetev made a mistake about the Knesset Hagedolah as appears from Sh”t Shevut Yacov. Sh”t Shevut Yacov quotes the Shaarei Knesset Hagedolah (Hagahot Hatur 672:1) who writes that he retracted from his opinion that one should light before praying. ]  </ref>

# Ashkenzim who have the Minhag to pray at Tzet, should light at Shkiah before praying [[Mariv]] at Tzet. If Tzet came and one didn’t light he should first pray and then light. However some have the Minhag to always light after praying [[Mariv]]. One should set up the chanukia and candles before Tzet so that after [[Mariv]] one can light right away. <ref> Mishna Brurah 672:1 in name of Mor Ukesiah and the Minhag of the Gra to light before they prayed at Tzet, if one didn’t light until Tzet one prays first because of Tadir and that [[Shema]] is Deoritta. He also records the practice of some who would always light after [[Mariv]]. Torat HaMoadim 4:8 agrees. One should set it up beforehand as per Mishna Brurah 672:1 and Kaf Hachaim 672:6. </ref>

# If one has an established [[minyan]] for [[Mariv]] very late, one can light earlier than [[Mariv]] at [[Tzet HaKochavim]]. <ref> Yeshuot Yacov 681:1, Sh”t Az Nidabru 9:47, Sh”t Teshuvot VeHanhagot 2:338, Mitzvah Ner Ish Ubeto (6 footnote 4), and Rav Elyashiv (quoted in Halichot Yosef p. 239) say that the reason of Tadir (and that [[Shema]] is Deoritta) only applies if the two [[mitzvot]] ([[mariv]] and [[Chanukah]] candles) are both available at the same time, but if one mitzvah is later, such as if one goes to a [[Maariv]] [[minyan]] later, one can light earlier at the appropriate time. See, however, Igrot Moshe 4:99:1 who seems to disagree with this point (See the [[Sefirat HaOmer#When to count Sefira]] page about this). </ref>