Placement of the Chanukah Candles: Difference between revisions

# The Chanukia should be placed within a [[Tefach]] of the left side of the door, opposite the doorpost with the [[mezuzah]]. If there's no [[mezuzah]] one should light within a [[Tefach]] of the right side of the door. <Ref>In Gemara [[Shabbat]] 22a Rabba says that the [[chanuka]] candles should be set up within a [[Tefach]] of the door. The Gemara continues with a dispute whether [[Chanukah]] candles should be on the left or right side of the door and concludes that the halacha is that it should be placed on the left so that the [[mezuzah]] is on the right and [[Chanukah]] candles on the left. S”A 671:7 rules like the Gemara that the [[chanuka]] candles should be placed within a [[Tefach]] of the left side of the door opposite the [[Mezuzah]]. S"A also adds that if there's no [[mezuzah]] one should light on the right side of the door.</Ref>

# The Chanukia should be placed between 3 and 10 [[Tefachim]] (between 24 and 80 centimeters) from the ground of the house. If it’s placed above 10 [[Tefachim]], one fulfilled the obligation. <ref> [[Shabbat]] 21b the statement of Ravina that it’s a mitzvah (preferable) to place it below ten; Ran (9b s.v. Garsi) in name of Rabbenu Chananel and Rabbenu Yonah, Rashba ([[Shabbat]] 21b Amar Ravina), Rosh ([[Shabbat]] 2:5), Smag ([[Chanukah]] 250d), Smak (280, 277), Tur and S”A 671:6 hold like Ravina even though the gemara questions him. Kitzur S"A 139:8 concurs. Bet Yosef 671:6 says since the Rif and Rambam don’t mention this it means you can place it anywhere, but to fulfill everyone’s opinion one should put it below 10. Also Orchot Chaim pg 117d:3 and Kol Bo hold explicitly like Rambam and Rif that only after the fact can light under 10. [Moreover [[Seder]] Hayom and Gefen Poriah (Bava Kama 62b) say that one doesn’t fulfill his obligation if less than 10.] The Bet Yosef brings the dispute of the Mordechai ([[Shabbat]] 266) who writes that since everyone lights indoors, one can light even above 10 and the Tur (671:6) who writes to place it within 10 not differentiating between indoors and outside. Tur 671:6 in name of Maharam MeRotenberg holds that one should place it above 3 [[Tefachim]]. This is also the opinion of Mordechai [[Shabbat]] 266, S”A 671:6. Birkat Yosef Yedid 3 pg 207, Sh”t Kinyan Torah 1:131(2) imply from Orchot Chaim that under three [[Tefachim]] doesn’t fulfill the mitzvah. However most argue than if it’s lit less than 3, one still fulfills the obligation including. Yet, Pri [[Chadash]] 671, Pri Megadim A”A 671:6, Mishna Brurah 671:26, Kaf HaChaim 671:50, Torat HaMoadim 3:5, and Shaar Shlomo (51, pg 33d) who says someone on the road can even light on the ground. </ref>

# Similarly someone who lives an upper floor apartment, should light by the door of the apartment and if they want they can light at the window even if it’s above 20 [[amot]]. Some have the custom to light by the apartment building entrance. <ref> Ritva ([[Shabbat]] 21b s.v. VeIm Dar) says someone living in an upper floor should light by the window that’s above 20 [[amot]]. However, Pri [[Chadash]] 671:6, Pri Megadim A”A 671:8, and Machsit HaShekel 671:6 say to light it by the door of the apartment. Thus, Kitzur S"A 139:8 rules that if one's window is more than 20 [[amot]] above the ground level of the street outside, one shouldn't light by the window, but rather by the house door. Chazon Ovadiah ([[Chanukah]] pg 36) says that one living in an apartment on the fifth floor (just an example) should light inside his house by the door and if he wants he can light by the window that’s above 20 [[amot]] as it’s Pirsume Nisa for the household members and to those on the street according Rabbenu Yoel and for others in a building across the street at the same height (similar to Kol Bo [[Chanukah]] pg 99). The custom of lighting by the apartment entrance is sourced in halacha 17. </ref>