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Laws of Chanukah
1. The time to light the menorah is immediately after the stars appear (the Vilna Gaon says to light it at sunset) and you should not delay it. It is forbidden to do anything before lighting the menorah, except, if you have not prayed maariv, you should first pray maariv and then light the menorah. Those who pray maariv before lighting should have the menorah completely prepared with oil and wicks in order to be able to light them immediately after maariv.
(Mishnah Berurah)
2. Before lighting the menorah you should gather the entire family, in order to proclaim the event publicly. You should pour in enough oil to burn at least 1/2 hour. If you do not have sufficient oil to burn 1/2 hour, you should light them without saying a brocho. If, inadvertently, you did not light them immediately, you may light them and say the brochos, as long as the members of your family are still awake.
(Kitzur Shulchan Aruch)
A Torah Thought for Today
"Whole-heartedness". We must perform our service to HaShem with purity. Devote your whole heart to His divine service. Serve Him with enthusiasm and idealism.
(One Minute at a Time, Rabbi Moshe Goldberger). |
