Lighting in Shul: Difference between revisions

The practice is to light [[Chanuka]] candles in Shul between [[Mincha]] and [[Mariv]] with a bracha since it’s a very old Minhag so there’s Pirsume Nisa to those in Shul during [[Mariv]]. <Ref> Tur, S”A 671:7, Yalkut Yosef 671:1. Sh"t Melamed Lehoil OC 121 points out that this minhag is not mentioned by any of the earlier mainstream Rishonim like the Rif, the rosh, the rambam and the first one to mention it is the Baal Haitur 2:Hilchot [[Chanuka]] 114b, but doesn't mention if we should say a beracha. Shibbolei Haleket 185 questions the minhag and says that for sure one shouldn't light with a beracha. However, Sh"t Rivash 111 (quoted in Beit Yosef 671) says that this lighting is to fulfill the obligation publicly since nowadays we light inside and this is a strong minhag that's done for the purpose of pirsumei nisa and therefore requires a beracha. Biur Halacha 671 “ubibet haknesset” notes that we don’t paskin like the rivash’s reason because we light in shul even in places where we can light outside. Orchot Chayim Hilchot [[Chanuka]] Ot 17 says that the minhag developed so that those who didn't know how to light could fulfill their obligation in shuls. Sdei Chemed Asifat Dinim [[Chanuka]] 24 notes that this is the primary reason for the lighting. Sefer hamanhig 148 (pg. 531) says that the lighting is zecher lamikdash and a shul is considered a mikdash miat (based on the gemara in megilla 29a's interpretation of the pasuk in Yechezkel 11:16. Beit yosef 671 quotes the Kol Bo 44 as saying the reason is to fulfill the obligation of those who weren't doing it otherwise, like we did for [[Kiddush]] in shul on Friday night and that is is a special pirsum hanes. Mor Uketzia 672 expounds on this point. see also Kaf Hachaim 671:70.<br />

:Many Achronim including Sh"t Chacham Tzvi 88 question how S”A could say that one can make a bracha for such a lighting which is only a Minhag [Because of this question the Pri Chadash says to light without a bracha]. Further the Ravyah quoted by the Bet Yosef 671 says that since it’s only a Minhag we (Ashkenazim) only make a bracha because it’s a Minhag and Ashkenazim make a bracha on Minhag, like [[Hallel]] on [[Rosh Chodesh]]. However Sephardim who don’t make [[Brachot]] on a Minhag, how can S”A rule to make a bracha in Shul? One answer (brought by Yalkut Yosef 671) is that it’s meant to fulfill the obligation (by saying Birchat HaRoah) of those who don’t have a house and can’t light, based on Orchot Chaim Ot 17. Secondly, Sh”t Rivash 111 says it’s done to fulfill the obligation publicly since nowadays we light inside and that this is a strong Minhag that’s done for the purpose of Pirsume Nisa and requires a bracha. [A third answer that we clearly don’t pasken like is that the Sherit Yosef who says that by [[Chanuka]] candles we go Safek [[Brachot]] LeHachmir.] Kaf Hachaim 671:70 answers based on the Gra 671:7 that it requires a beracha since it is a special fulfillment of Pirsumei Nisa, like [[Hallel]] on the first night of [[pesach]]. see Sh"t Yabea Omer 7:57 for other answers to this question. </ref>