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- 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 (654)
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
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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
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
