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Laws of Chanukah I
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Laws of Chanukah II
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Laws of Chanukah I
1. The Gemora makes
reference to a time
of lighting the
Chanukah menora
“from sundown until
people no longer are
walking outside”.
The approximate time
for this is one
half-hour. The
Gemora derives from
this, according to
one answer, that the
measure of time for
a menora to burn
would be one
half-hour. Although
today we light in
our homes, the
"measure” still
remains one
half-hour.
2. The following
laws would be
affected by this
time duration of one
half hour:
a. One would be
allowed to
extinguish the flame
after the one
half-hour.
b. One would be
permitted to use the
lights for one’s own
benefit after the
one half-hour.
c. Oil left in the
menora after the
time would be
usable.
d. If one was a
partner with another
party in the
lighting of the
menora there would
be no purpose in
adding extra oil to
burn past the one
half hour.
e. One could light
another light from
the menora after the
one half-hour.
3. The previous
opinion is expressed
by the Shulchan
Aruch. However, in
each case the Mishna
Brura quotes a
second opinion that
the mitzva continues
for the duration of
the time the oil
burns, even past the
half-hour.
4. Because of this
opposing opinion the
Mishna Brura
suggests one should
stipulate before one
lights that only the
first half-hour is
the mitzva and then
one may extinguish
the light, etc.
5. This, of course,
would apply if one
must leave the house
and wishes to
extinguish the
lights first.
6. However, there is
an opinion that one
should have it lit
until the pedestrian
traffic is not found
in the street.
Nowadays, this could
be around the time
people finish coming
home from work,
etc., about 7:30 pm.
7. However, if one
is lighting just for
himself with no
access to a window,
etc., one’s
obligation is only
the half hour.
Laws of Chanukah II
1. To make a
Chanukah party not
focussed on Torah
and praise of Hashem
is a misconception
of the holiday.
2. It is important
that the lights of
Chanukah should be
visibly separate,
not too close
together.
3. If one has no
windows that face
the street one
should light in the
house, preferable on
a table less than
forty inches from
the floor and more
than a foot off the
floor.
4. First, place the
menora in proper
position, then
light.
5. Preferably it
should be placed at
the entrance of the
room with the mezuza
to the right and the
menora to the left.
6. The lighting time
is about 40 minutes
after sunset, but in
an emergency or on
Erev Shabbos one may
light even an hour
before sunset.
7. If one lights
before the proper
time, enough oil
should be in the cup
to burn for a half
hour after the
proper lighting
time. If possible,
it is best to put
enough oil to last
until an hour and a
half after sunset.
8. If one lights
after the regular
lighting time, then
the oil should burn,
at least, one half
hour.
9. One may, in an
emergency, light any
time during the
night, but the
brocha should only
be recited if the
family members are
still awake.
10. One should not
benefit from the
lights. Therefore,
the shammosh should
be larger or higher
to indicate that it,
and not the other
lights, is being
used. This also
applies after the
required time for
the lights to remain
lit has passed.
11. If old wicks
create a better
light, they could be
used.
12. The custom is
not to light one
Chanucah light from
another.
13. A woman whose
husband lights on
her behalf need not
light. Otherwise,
she is obligated to
light, as is a
single woman.
14. All the brochos
are recited before
the actual lighting.
If one forgot before
starting to light,
then they may be
recited until he
finishes lighting.
If one forgets
altogether to make
the brochos until
after all the lights
are lit, one may
still recite the two
brochos, "sheaso
nissim" and "shehecheyanu",
but not "lihadlik
ner".
15. The lighting is
from left to right,
but the lights are
arranged from right
to left.
16. The mitzva of
lighting is so
precious, one should
even sell ones coat
to procure money to
fulfill this mitzva.
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