Placement of the Chanukah Candles: Difference between revisions

== Placement of the Chanukia==

# If there’s a courtyard from one’s house to the public domain, one should light by the public domain and not at the door of one’s house. There’s a dispute whether the hallway and stairwell connecting an apartment to the street is considered like a courtyard in front of a house or not.<ref>The Gemara ([[Shabbat]] 21b) states that [[Chanukah]] candles should be lit outside the door of one’s house. Rashi (s.v. MeBaChutz) explains that the [[Chanukah]] candles should be placed inside the courtyard and not in the public domain, whereas Tosfot (s.v. Mitzvah) argue that it should be placed by the entrance to the courtyard. The Piskei Rid, Rashba, Tur, and Shulchan Aruch 671:5 hold like Tosfot.

* Rashba ([[Shabbat]] 21b) and Ran explain that Rashi's opinion is that the candles should be lit by the  doorway to the house and not the doorway to the courtyard. This is also the opinion of the Ri (cited by the Smag [[Chanukah]] and Hagahot Maimon ([[Chanukah]] 4:30), see, however, Bach 671:5), Riaz ([[Shabbat]] 21a), and Shiltei Giborim ([[Shabbat]] 21a).  

# One must light in the place where the Chanukia is going to stay. Thus, one shouldn’t light indoors and then move the Chanukia outside or light it in one’s hand and then put it down. If one did so, one should extinguish the candles and relight without a bracha. Consequently, a sick person should light while in bed and then have the Chanukia moved but rather should let another household member light. <ref> Rava's opinion on [[Shabbat]] 22b is that one must light the [[Chanukah]] candles where the candles are going stay. Rambam ([[Chanukah]] 4:9), Tur and S”A (675:1) codify this as the halacha. Pri Chadash says one shouldn’t make a bracha if one needs to light again, against Hagahot Rabbi Akiva Eiger 675 who says to make a bracha. Because of Safek [[Brachot]] one shouldn’t make a bracha (in addition to the idea that perhaps one fulfills the mitzvah not it’s place if it’s recognizable that it’s lit for [[Chanukah]]- Sh”t Lev Chaim 3:146), so holds Torat HaMoadim 3:9 and Sh”t Hitorerut Teshuva 2:110. [Also, a sefek sefeka isn’t sufficient to allow a bracha- see Yechave Daat 5:21] Torat HaMoadim 3:9 quotes the ruling of a sick person from Sh”t Lev Chaim 3:146. </ref>

==Lighting Indoors or Outdoors==

* The Gemara ([[Shabbat]] 21b) states that one may light indoors if it there is a danger in lighting outside. Rashi and Tosfot (s.v. Ubeshat HaSakanah) explain that the ruling authority of the time outlawed lighting candles outdoors. Accordingly, the Or Zaru’a 2:323 asked why nowadays, when such danger no longer exists, the practice is to light inside. The Shibolei HaLeket 185 answers that once there was a time when Jews had to light indoors, the minhag remained even if its original motivation dissipated. Another approach in defense of the minhag is based on the opinion of the Ritva. The Ritva ([[Shabbat]] 21b s.v. Ubeshat HaSakana) quotes his Rebbe as saying that if one can not light outside because of the winds, one should light inside.

* Seemingly, the only exemption to lighting outside is a time of danger as in [[Shabbat]] 21b. Rashi and Tosfot (D”H Ubeshat Sakanah) explain that it was outlawed by the king to light. Thus Or Zaruh 2:323 asks, now, when there isn’t danger, why don’t we light outside.  

* However Itur 2 pg 114d, Shibolei Leket 185, and HaOhel Moed ([[Chanukah]] 5) say that once there was a Minhag not to light outside because of danger, the Minhag stayed in place. Another reason to be lenient is the Ritva ([[Shabbat]] 21b) and Rabbenu Perachya who say a prevention to light outside such as wind is also called “time of danger”.  

* Similarly, Rabbenu Yerucham 9:1, Siddur Rav Amram Goan, Hilchot Kesuvot Min HaGoenim, Darkei Moshe 671:9, Bach 671e hold that since thieves come (which is also called “danger”), they would light inside.  

* Nonetheless, the Meiri ([[Shabbat]] 21b), Tosfot ([[Shabbat]] 45a D”H Makmi) in name of Ri, Rid, Riaz, Ran, and Pri Chadash explaining S”A 671:5 say that a “danger” is considered when the government makes a decree forbidding lighting (and not just a fear of thievery). Still, the Raavad, Rashba, Sefer Trumah, and Ritva (against the Rambam) hold that if one lights inside not at the time of danger one fulfills his obligation after the fact.  

* Rama 671:7 writes that the accepted minhag nowadays is to light indoors next to the doorway. Mishna Brurah 671:38 agrees and adds that if there's a window to the public domain and there's no issue of danger one should light by the window.

* Others who defend the practice to light inside include: Tzafnat Pane’ach ([[Chanukah]] 3:3), Yaskil Avdi O”C 7:46, and Torat HaMoadim 3:4. See Mishna Brurah 671:35. Hanukah Booklet by Shaare Rachamim (pg 110) writes that Syrian minhag is to light indoors.  

* [Sh”t Dvar Yehoshua 1:40 says nowadays one can only light indoors and it doesn’t fulfill the mitzvah to light outside. However Yalkut Yosef (Moadim 231-2) quotes Rav Ovadyah’s response to this that it’s better to light outside but one is allowed to light inside.] </ref>

===Lighting in Yeshiva===

# Some say that one fulfills his obligation with lighting in the lobby of the dorms. Some also have the minhag to light in the cafeteria of the yeshiva.<ref> Chazon Ish cited in Teshuvot Vihanhagot 2:342:11 and Rav Aharon Kotler cited in Halachos of [[Chanukah]] by Rav Shimon Eider pg. 37 </ref> Others, however, argue that one would fulfill his obligation only if he lights on the same floor as his room. Due to safety considerations, though, many Yeshivot, forbid lighting in or next to the dorm rooms.<Ref>The Gemara ([[Shabbat]] 21b) establishes that the primary place for [[Chanukah]] candles is right outside the door of one’s house. Rashi (s.v. Mibachutz) explains that even if one has a courtyard in front of his house, he still is obligated to light by the entrance of one’s house. Tosfot (s.v. Mitzvah), on the other hand, argue that in such a case, one should light at the entrance to the courtyard, as it connects to the public thoroughfare. Although the Ran (9b s.v. Tanu) agrees with Rashi, the Tur and S”A 671:5 cite the view of Tosfot.  

===Glass cases===

# Some achronim say that one shouldn’t light with the glass case doors wide open when one lights and then close them after lighting if it’s a windy place, while most others argue that one may be lenient. <Ref>The Maharal Diskin (quoted by Mikrei Kodesh [[siman 17]] and Moadim UZmanim vol 2 siman 142) holds that one shouldn’t light with the glass case doors open because at the time of the lighting the candles have to able to burn for a half hour and in this case at the time of lighting they were in a windy place. So held the Griz (quoted by Piskei Teshuvot 673:5). However, Rav Chaim Zonenfeld in Sh”t Shelmat Chaim Siman 261 disagrees with the Maharal Diskin. Rav Tzvi [[Pesach]] Frank in Sh”t Har Tzvi Siman 114 agrees with Rav Chaim Zonenfeld because one’s intention and completion of lighting was to close the doors. Rav Shternbach in Moadim UZmanim 2:142, Rav Shlomo Zalman in Minchat Shlomo 58:1 (and Halichot Shlomo 16:6), Rav Chaim Kanievsky in Taama DeKra Parshat Vayeshev, and Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 675:2) concur with the lenient position. </ref>

== Heights of placement of Chanukia==