Kosher Oil, Wicks, and Candles for Chanuka: Difference between revisions

# Someone involved in sticking wax candles to the Chanukia and then finds oil, should switch to use oil. If one started the bracha on the wax candles one can’t switch to oil. <ref> Sh”t Shevut Yacov 1:37 says once one sticks the wax candles to the Chanukia one began the mitzvah and shouldn’t change to oil. Sh”t Chacham Tzvi 45 argues that that isn’t called starting the mitzvah. Sh”t Shevut Yacov defends himself in [[teshuva]] 2:30 and agrees even though one started the mitzvah one doesn’t have to change to oil but can if he wants to be strict. Most of the Achronim hold like the Chacham Tzvi including:Sh”t Shaar Yosef 8, Birkei Yosef 673:3, Sh”t Yad Eliyahu Melublin 42, Sh”t Tiferet Yosef O”C 36, Sh”t Nachalat Binyamin O”C 132, Sh”t Shelat Shalom (Kama 113), and Kol Sinai (Kislev 5725). Shaarei [[Teshuva]] 673:1 and Aruch HaShulchan 673:6 say that once one begins the bracha one can’t change to oil at all. </ref>

# One can’t use an electric light (because it lacks oil and wick) or a gas flame (because it lacks a wick) for [[Chanukah]] candles. If one has nothing else one should turn it on without a bracha (whether one can get benefit from it, see later on).If one later gets a candle he should light with a bracha. <ref> Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Sh”t Yacheve Daat 4:38, Yabia Omer O”C 2:17(12),3:35, 10:54(19), Chazon Ovadyah ([[Chanukah]] pg 93), Sh”t Bet Yitzchak Y”D 120, doesn’t allow electric or gas lights. Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach in Halichot Shlomo (Moadim 283), and Rav Elyashiv in Kovetz Teshuvot 3:103 say if there’s nothing else available if the lights are set up so it’s recognizable that it’s [[Chanukah]] candles one can light (and seemingly make a bracha). Gas: Pitchei Sharim ([[Shabbat]] 21a) and Sh”t Yad HaLevi O”C 116 forbid the use of gas bulbs. Sh”t Yam Hagadol 32 allows gas but not electric lights.[Atret Zekenim 673 quotes Maharal of Prague who forbids even wax because the miracle happened with oil.] Electric: Ashel Avrham Nemark ([[Shabbat]] 22a), Sh”t Mayim Chaim Mashash 279, Or [[Chadash]] 5665 pg 36, Sh”t Ohel Yitzchak Posek in name of Rabbi Yachanon Fershel, and Sh”t Kochavei Yitzchak 5-8 allow electric lights. However, Sh”t Levushei Mordechai Winkler ([[Talit]]a O”C 59, Mehudra Batra 19), Sh”t Har Tzvi O”C 2:114, Sh”t Bear Moshe 6:59, Sh”t Ohel Yitzchak Posek 3, Sh”t Darkei Shalom Leiter 63(5), Pedukat Elazar 23, Sh”t Eliyahu Kalsakin 63, Sh”t Dvar Eliyahu 63, Sh”t Mishpatei Uziel O”C 1:7(2), Sh”t Mahargash 2:107, Kaf HaChaim 673:19, Sh”t Mishnat Sachir 2:203, Even Yisrael 9 pg 127b, Sh”t Yashkil Avdi O”C 2:9(8), 3:17,Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 1:20(12), and Sh”t Shevet Hakehati 3:199 forbid the use of electric lights. </ref>

# All wicks and oils are kosher for [[Chanukah]] candles even the wicks and oils that are unfit for [[Shabbat]] candles such as wicks of cotton, hair or silk, and oils of castor oil or pitch (See Hilchot [[Shabbat]] Candles), which the wicks don’t draw well from the oil. <ref> [[Shabbat]] 21a brings a dispute in the Amoraim. We hold that these wicks and oils are permitted for [[Chanukah]]. It’s only a potential issue on Friday afternoon and even then it’s permitted since we are not afraid that on [[Shabbat]] you’ll fix the wick (to draw better) because the [[Chanukah]] candles are forbidden to benefit from their light and if they go out one donesn’t have to relight them. Rambam ([[Chanukah]] 4:6), Tur and S”A 673:1. </ref>

# Some have the Minhag to add some water to the oil as long as the wick is immersed in the oil so that it’s able to light. <Ref> Yafeh Lelev 2, 671:2. </ref>

# One is allowed to light with oil of the Shemittah year. <Ref> Rav Mordechai Eliyahu in Techumin (Vol 21 pg 11-15) </ref>

# All wicks are Kosher for lighting candles and it’s preferable to light with cotton or linen wicks. <ref> S”A 673:1 says all wicks are kosher based on [[Shabbat]] 21b, Rambam ([[Chanukah]] 4:6), and Tur 673. Chaye Adam 154:8, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:4, Mishna Brurah 673:2 and Kaf HaChaim 673:3 say that it’s preferable to use cotton or linen wicks. </ref>

# One doesn’t need to replace the wicks until it’s used up. Some specifically don’t because wicks already lit catch faster, but some replace them as a reminder of the wicks in the Bet HaMikdash. <ref> Masechet Soferim 20:4, Orchot Chaim ([[Chanukah]] 6), Shibolei HaLeket 185, Rabbi David Avudraham in name of Rashi ([[Seder]] Tefilat [[Chanukah]]), Tur 677 and S”A 673:4 say that wicks can be reused until they’re used up. Orchot Chaim 5, Kol Bo 44, Ohel Moed ([[Chanukah]] 2), Meiri ([[Shabbat]] 21a says that it’s just a Hidur), Leket Yosher ([[Chanukah]] pg 152), Darkei Moshe 673:6 says that it’s the practice to use new wicks. Levush 673 and Mishna Brurah 673:31 say that reusing the wicks is better because it lights faster. </ref>

==Chanukia For Chanukah Candles==

# Preferably, one should use a chanukia and not just stick wax candles on top of a counter and light them as such. <Ref> Chacham Tzvi 45 holds that sticking wax candles without a chanukia is fine. Mishna Brurah 671:18 clearly implies this way as well. Yalkut Yosef 671:15 writes that one should be strict to use a chanukia because some hold that it is absolutely necessary. Avnei Nezer OC 2:500 quotes that the Chessed L’avraham who says that this is a requirement. Rav Hershel Schachter (“Bava Metsia Shiur 35” min. 17-9) strongly recommended using a chanukia, but mentioned that on occasion Rav Soloveitchik would light wax candles directly on a window sill. </ref>