YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Answer: Your friend can fulfill his basic mitzva in this way (Mishna Berura 676:9). If your neighbor comes home very late, it is a good question whether it is better for him to light himself then or have you do it for him at a "better" time (see Living the Halachic Process VI, D-7). We will leave that decision to him and his rabbis.
In general, "Reuven" recites a beracha before doing a mitzva on behalf of "Shimon" (Rambam, Berachot 11:13, mentioning the mitzvot of mezuza, hafrashat ma’asrot, ma’akeh, and mila). This is because birchot hamitzvot relate to the mitzva’s action, not its fulfillment (Minchat Shlomo II:58). However, the way Reuven and Shimon team up in the fulfillment of the mitzva can differ significantly from mitzva to mitzva. We will give some examples.
All valid mohalim are halachically capable of doing mila to Shimon’s son, with Shimon just being the one with a specific obligation to do so. If Reuven does the mila, he fulfills the mitzva for himself, irrespective of whether Shimon asked him or fulfills his mitzva (see Shach, Choshen Mishpat 382:4). In contrast, Reuven needs Shimon’s authorization to take off ma’asrot and the mitzva’s impact applies to Shimon. In both cases, Reuven makes the beracha (Rambam ibid.; Derech Emuna, Terumot 4:1). Therefore, we would expect that if Reuven lights Chanuka candles in Shimon’s house, he would make the beracha.
The complication begins with the Bach, cited by the Magen Avraham (676:4) and Mishna Berura (675:9). He seems to say that one who already lit Chanuka lights can light for a woman (his case) but can make the beracha only if she is listening, because it is "the responsibility of a person’s body." If Shimon listens, it is as if he makes the beracha himself. Rav SZ Auerbach, while puzzled why Chanuka lights are different from other mitzvot, explains that since the mitzva devolves on Shimon’s house, which does not relate to Reuven, Reuven cannot make the beracha for himself.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions (651)
Rabbi Daniel Mann
653 - Ask the Rabbi: Transporting Children before or after Shacharit?
654 - Ask the Rabbi: Beracha when Lighting for a Neighbor
655 - Ask the Rabbi: Beracha Acharona on Cake
Load More
A precedent for these berachot being separate from the mitzva of lighting per se is found in the Shulchan Aruch (OC 676:2) – if someone has not lit or is connected to a lighting, he should make She’asa Nissim and Shehecheyanu when he sees someone else’s candles. What is the subject of considerable debate is whether when members of one’s household light on his behalf, he needs to make She’asa Nissim and Shehecheyanu himself (see Mishna Berura 676:6; ibid. 677:14).
Let us move on to practical suggestions. The indications are strong enough that you should definitely not recite She’asa Nissim and Shehecheyanu at your neighbor’s house, and therefore, he should try to find Chanuka lights upon which to recite them. Regarding Lehadlik Ner, it is very difficult to decide whether you can recite it. Therefore, it is usually best to light at your neighbor’s home right after lighting at your own home, in which case the beracha goes on both venues (Acharonim, including Dirshu 675:15, in the name of Rav Elyashiv). An exception would be when your neighbor is abroad, in Central or Western Europe, in which case, you should light at a time when it is night where he is (see Living the Halachic Process VI, D-8). In that case, it is safer not to make any of the berachot.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
