Mourning and Fasting on Chanukah and Purim: Difference between revisions

# There is a long standing practice that women wouldn’t do work during the half hour that the candles are lit. The practice is meant to highlight the fact that we don’t use the light of the candles for our benefit. One shouldn’t be lenient in this practice except for Ochel Nefesh needs for food such as [[cooking]] and baking. <ref> This practice is brought down by Tur and S”A (670:1), 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. Eliyah Raba 670:2, Derech Chaim, Lekutei Mahrich 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 Maglei Tzedek who says that it applies as long as the candles are lit. Sh”t Kinyan Torah 7:52 writes if it forbidden for melacha by comparing the time to [[Yom tov]] melachot which are permitted on [[Yom Tov]] are permitted. This is also the opinion of Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 190) </ref>

# Some had the Minhag not to do any work on [[Chanukah]] but this is a wrong Minhag and should be stopped because leads to excessive idleness. <Ref> So says Shiltei Giborim and Sh”t Chacham Tzvi 89 brought down by Mishna Burah 670:5 and Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 670:3). </ref>

==Related pages==

# See also [[Mourning]].