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Laws of Chanukah - Readers Questions
Reader's Question:
Should a wife light [the Chanuka menorah] before the husband comes home from work if [ by the time he comes home] it will be after the zman?
And should the husband wait for the wife if she is not home at the zman?(and let her light on her own when she comes home).
Lastly what should one do if he is at a chanukah party and the zman hadlaka arrives. he will not be in his house until later. what should one do? not leave his own house until he lights?
Answer:
The wife should wait for the husband and the husband should wait for the wife and light when both are present, as long as they will all get together before the time of "Tichle Regel min HaShuk- when people are no longer in the streets".
If her husband is away and will not be back until very late that night after most people are already sleeping, the woman should light at the proper time.
The reason for this is because today that we light inside it is more important to light when everyone [in the family] is present and get the Pirsumei Nisa, rather than light alone at the ideal time. (See Shulchan Aruch and Ram'a Siman 672:2.
The Seforim also quote a Mekor Chaim that says that it is best to wait until the entire family is present. The NemukeiOrach Chaim says that a lot of Chasidic Rebbes also light very late as they want all the Chasidim to be present and thus get more Pirsumei Nisa. See also Shu"t Az Nidberu Vol. 3 Siman 30:3 and Shu"t Shevet halevi Vol. 4 Siman 66 for various variations in this Halacha as far as what time is considered " Tichle Regel" in today's days.)
Ideally one should light (and wait half an hour) before leaving to the party. If not, he can still light when he gets back.
Reader's Question:
On Shabbos Chanuka, I will be in a hotel for a Simcha from Friday afternoon until Motzai Shabbos. What is the Halacha for lighting Chanuka candles Friday evening?
Answer:
One who is not home, and is spending the night in a hotel must light in the hotel.
According to many Poskim the ideal place is in the room in the hotel that you will be sleeping in and not in the dining room, as this room is "reserved" for you. (Psak of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Shlita. Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita in Shu"t Teshuvos V'Hanhagos Vol. 3 Siman 215:14 paskens like this as well, besides if there is no window in the room, then he maintains it's better to light at the window in the dining room)
Some Poskim (Rav Nissim Karelitz Shlita and others) maintain that it is best to light in the dining room, especially if there are others there for the same reason as you (family simcha, Yarchei Kallah etc.) as that makes it as if the entire "family" is together, and thus the proper place to light.
Obviously, if the hotel doesn't allow lighting fires in the rooms, it is best to rely on those Poskim that say to light in the dining room.
reprinted with permission from HalachaForToday.Com
A Torah Thought for Today
Chanukah is a time for drawing forth wisdom from Heaven. The Gemorah Sanhedrin 92b comments, "whoever has wisdom eventually will become rich." Chanukah as a source of wisdom will lead to wealth and prosperity.
(Avnei Nezer) |
