Lighting Chanukah Candles: Difference between revisions
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==How long should the candles last?== | ==How long should the candles last?== | ||
For background, see the [[How Long Do Chanukah Candles Have To Be Lit?]] page. | For background, see the [[How Long Do Chanukah Candles Have To Be Lit?]] page. | ||
# The candles only need fuel to burn for a half hour<ref>Shulchan Aruch 672:2</ref> even nowadays when people are out in the street much later.<ref>[[Shabbat]] 21b says the time of Tichle Regel is when the Tarmodeans (merchants) leave, which the Rif says is about a half hour. The Rambam ([[Chanukah]] 4:5) and Orchot Chaim ([[Chanukah]] 15) write it’s a half hour or (a little) more. The Rosh (2:3), Rabben Yerucham 9:1, Meiri, S”A 672:2, Mishna Brurah 672:1 (who is strict to satisfy all opinions to light by [[Shekiah]] and have it last a half hour past Tzet), and Torat HaMoadim 4:5 agree that the candles need enough oil to be lit for a half hour. Some say that the practice of the Griz was that since the Gemara sets the ending time for candles as when people leave the marketplace, nowadays when many people stay at the marketplace late into the night one should have to light longer than a half hour. Indeed, Avodot VeHanagot LeBet Brisk says that the Griz himself challenged that idea when he heard it from another Rabbi in Brisk, yet he lit candles that lasted for very long only as a hiddur mitzvah. Also, Yomin DeChanukah and Leket Yoshar say there’s a hiddur mitzvah to light for longer than a half hour. However, Chazon Ovadiah pg 66, Sh”t Mishna Halachot 4 pg 79, and Sh”t Or Letzion 44 argue that the measure set by Chazal (a half hour) hasn’t changed because of the practice of our time. Halachos of Chanukah by Rabbi Eider p. 20 agrees.</ref> | # The candles only need fuel to burn for a half hour<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 672:2</ref> even nowadays when people are out in the street much later.<ref>[[Shabbat]] 21b says the time of Tichle Regel is when the Tarmodeans (merchants) leave, which the Rif says is about a half hour. The Rambam ([[Chanukah]] 4:5) and Orchot Chaim ([[Chanukah]] 15) write it’s a half hour or (a little) more. The Rosh (2:3), Rabben Yerucham 9:1, Meiri, S”A 672:2, Mishna Brurah 672:1 (who is strict to satisfy all opinions to light by [[Shekiah]] and have it last a half hour past Tzet), and Torat HaMoadim 4:5 agree that the candles need enough oil to be lit for a half hour. Some say that the practice of the Griz was that since the Gemara sets the ending time for candles as when people leave the marketplace, nowadays when many people stay at the marketplace late into the night one should have to light longer than a half hour. Indeed, Avodot VeHanagot LeBet Brisk says that the Griz himself challenged that idea when he heard it from another Rabbi in Brisk, yet he lit candles that lasted for very long only as a hiddur mitzvah. Also, Yomin DeChanukah and Leket Yoshar say there’s a hiddur mitzvah to light for longer than a half hour. However, Chazon Ovadiah pg 66, Sh”t Mishna Halachot 4 pg 79, and Sh”t Or Letzion 44 argue that the measure set by Chazal (a half hour) hasn’t changed because of the practice of our time. Halachos of Chanukah by Rabbi Eider p. 20 agrees. [[Young_Israel_of_Woodmere_Hilchos_Chanuka|Rav Hershel Schachter (Young Israel of Woodmere Packet)]] argues that it is proper to light with candles that last 4-5 hours since according to the Brisker Rav and Rav Soloveitchik the amount of fiel changes based on the time and place.</ref> | ||
# If one doesn’t have enough for the each Hidur candle, the Hidur candles don’t need to burn for a half hour.<ref> Magen Avraham 671:1 </ref> | # If one doesn’t have enough for the each Hidur candle, the Hidur candles don’t need to burn for a half hour.<ref> Magen Avraham 671:1 </ref> | ||
# A person who is in doubt if his candles will last a half hour can nonetheless light with a bracha.<ref> Smag in name of the Ri, Hagahot Maimon ([[Chanukah]] 4:2), Ravyah (843 pg 579) in name of Rabbenu Tam hold that no minimum measure is needed (the gemara’s two explanation of ‘Tichleh Regel Min HaShuk’ argue and we hold the first explanation). Similarly, Hilchot and Minhagei Maharash in name of Rimzei HaRosh (quoted by Darkei Moshe 672:1), Piskei Tosfot ([[Shabbat]] 89), Leket Yoshar pg 151, Shiltei Giborim([[Shabbat]] 9a:5), Taharat Mayim Shuirei Tahara 8:9, Sh”t Chochavei Yitzchak 1:5(3), Sh”t Bear Tzvi 31 that nowadays when we don’t light for Parsumei Nisa of the public, we don’t need a minimum measure. Thus we have a Safek Safeka(double doubt) perhaps no minimum measure is needed and perhaps even if the measure is necessary, the candle will last the minimum measure. Chazon Ovadiah ([[Chanukah]] pg 67) says if one wants to make a bracha, he can make a bracha with this Safek Sefaka. For more about Safek Safaka BeBrachot see Sh”t Yachave Daat 5:21 (the footnote), Otzrot Yosef 4:3, and Sh”t Chazon Ovadiah 48 pg 866. </ref> | # A person who is in doubt if his candles will last a half hour can nonetheless light with a bracha.<ref> Smag in name of the Ri, Hagahot Maimon ([[Chanukah]] 4:2), Ravyah (843 pg 579) in name of Rabbenu Tam hold that no minimum measure is needed (the gemara’s two explanation of ‘Tichleh Regel Min HaShuk’ argue and we hold the first explanation). Similarly, Hilchot and Minhagei Maharash in name of Rimzei HaRosh (quoted by Darkei Moshe 672:1), Piskei Tosfot ([[Shabbat]] 89), Leket Yoshar pg 151, Shiltei Giborim([[Shabbat]] 9a:5), Taharat Mayim Shuirei Tahara 8:9, Sh”t Chochavei Yitzchak 1:5(3), Sh”t Bear Tzvi 31 that nowadays when we don’t light for Parsumei Nisa of the public, we don’t need a minimum measure. Thus we have a Safek Safeka(double doubt) perhaps no minimum measure is needed and perhaps even if the measure is necessary, the candle will last the minimum measure. Chazon Ovadiah ([[Chanukah]] pg 67) says if one wants to make a bracha, he can make a bracha with this Safek Sefaka. For more about Safek Safaka BeBrachot see Sh”t Yachave Daat 5:21 (the footnote), Otzrot Yosef 4:3, and Sh”t Chazon Ovadiah 48 pg 866. </ref> | ||
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==Performing Labors while the Candles are Burning== | ==Performing Labors while the Candles are Burning== | ||
# There is a longstanding practice that women not to do any work while the candles are lit, to remind them that it is prohibited to benefit from the light of Chanuka candles.<ref> Tur and S"A 670:1, Aruch Hashulchan 670:8, Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg. 190, Chazon Ovadia Chanuka pg. 12 <br /> | # There is a longstanding practice that women not to do any work while the candles are lit, to remind them that it is prohibited to benefit from the light of Chanuka candles.<ref> Tur and S"A 670:1, Aruch Hashulchan 670:8, Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg. 190, Chazon Ovadia Chanuka pg. 12 <br /> | ||
This practice is | This practice is codified by Tur and S”A (670:1) and Aruch Hashulchan 670:8. Mor Ukesiah 670 explains that the practice is to show that it’s forbidden to use the light of the candles. The Taz 670:2 says that the custom is similar to their custom of abstaining from melacha on [[Rosh Chodesh]]. The basis for the custom on [[Rosh Chodesh]] is that the women did not participate in the sin of the Golden Calf so they were rewarded with the [[Rosh Chodesh]]. Similarly, since the miracle of [[Chanukah]] was brought about through the heroic actions of Yehudis, it is a worthy custom for women to commemorate this by abstaining from melacha. Chayei Adam [[Chanukah]] 154:3 also mentions the story of Yehudit as the basis for this custom. </ref> However, this only applies to strenuous labor such as sewing or weaving but not cooking or baking.<ref> Chazon Ovadia Chanuka pg. 12, Shu"t Shraga Hameir 6:87:2, Shu"t Kinyan Torah 7:52, Beer Moshe (brought in Nitei Gavriel pg. 218), Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky (Emes Liyaakov footnote to Siman 671, [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/m/halacha.aspx?id=3001 Rabbi Eli Mansour] </ref> | ||
# This only applies for the half hour that the Chanuka candles have to burn halachically.<ref>Chazon Ovadia Chanuka pg. 12, [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/m/halacha.aspx?id=3001 Rabbi Eli Mansour], Eliyah Raba 670:2, Kaf HaChaim 670:8, and Mishna Brurah 670:4 say that it’s only forbidden during the half hour of lighting which is a mitzvah against the Magen Avraham 670:2 in name of the Magelei Tzedek who says that it applies as long as the candles are lit. </ref> | # This only applies for the half hour that the Chanuka candles have to burn halachically.<ref>Chazon Ovadia Chanuka pg. 12, [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/m/halacha.aspx?id=3001 Rabbi Eli Mansour], Eliyah Raba 670:2, Kaf HaChaim 670:8, and Mishna Brurah 670:4 say that it’s only forbidden during the half hour of lighting which is a mitzvah against the Magen Avraham 670:2 in name of the Magelei Tzedek who says that it applies as long as the candles are lit. </ref> | ||
# Although some women have the practice to not perform labor at all on Chanuka, this practice is incorrect because this is excessive idelness.<ref> Chazon Ovadia Chanuka pg. 13, Yalkut Yosef Kitzur S"A 670:3, Mishna Berura 670:5 </ref> | # Although some women have the practice to not perform labor at all on Chanuka, this practice is incorrect because this is excessive idelness.<ref> Chazon Ovadia Chanuka pg. 13, Yalkut Yosef Kitzur S"A 670:3, Mishna Berura 670:5 </ref> | ||
