Women Doing Work on Chanuka

Is the minhag of some women to curtail work on Chanuka binding? When exactly does it apply, and what type of work is included?

Who Lights the Chanukiya - When, Where & How?

16. Fields and Vehicles

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

The poskim disagree about whether the obligation to light Ĥanuka candles is limited to the home. Some argue that the Sages ordained that only one who has a home must light candles. Others maintain that even one who does not have a home must light candles wherever he is.

15. Hospital Patients

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

A patient in a hospital is still obligated to light Ĥanuka candles. However, if he is married, he fulfills his obligation through his spouse’s lighting at home.

14. Hotels

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

People staying in a hotel must light Ĥanuka candles. It is best to light in one’s hotel room. If the hotel management does not permit guests to light candles in their rooms, then since there is no alternative one should light in the dining room.

13. Yeshiva Students, Soldiers, and College Students

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

A yeshiva student who sleeps in his dormitory room and eats in a cafeteria must light in his room. An uncertainty arises regarding Sephardic students.

12. Unmarried People who Live Alone

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

If an unmarried person has his own home, regardless of whether it is owned or rented, he must light candles there. If he is visiting friends at candle-lighting time but will return home to sleep, he cannot fulfill his obligation at his hosts’ home. Rather, he must return home to light.

11. A Married Person Who Is Away from Home

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

If a married man goes alone on Ĥanuka to visit friends or family while his wife remains at home, his wife must light the candles, and this exempts him from lighting.

10. Guests on Shabbat Hanuka

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

When a family goes away for Shabbat, the hosts’ home is considered their home on that Shabbat. Thus, the guests should buy a share in the host’s candles for a pruta, which allows them to fulfill their obligation through the host’s lighting.

9. Guests

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

When a family is visiting friends or relatives at candle-lighting time, it is not considered their home for the purpose of candle-lighting, so they cannot fulfill their obligation to light Ĥanuka candles there.

7. Waiting for a Family Member

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

In many families, the question arises as to the appropriate procedure when one’s spouse cannot make it home from work by tzeit. Is it better to light at tzeit or to wait for his or her return?

8. Lighting Before Shki’a or Late at Night in Pressing Circumstances

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

One who was unable to light Ĥanuka candles by 9 PM may light all night until dawn. However, he should recite the berakhot only if it is very likely that someone on the street will see his candles.

6. Delaying Candle-Lighting When Necessary

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

If one finds it difficult to return home by tzeit, he may light later. One should try to return home as soon as possible, in order to light close to the ideal time ordained by the Sages.

5. Friday Evening and Saturday Night

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

On Friday evening, obviously one may not light candles after sunset, since Shabbat begins at sunset, and on Shabbat one may not light a fire. In addition, one should not light immediately before sunset because of the mitzva of tosefet Shabbat

4. The Proper Time and Duration of Lighting

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

The Sages ordained that one must light the Ĥanuka candles when the miracle will be publicized most effectively.

3. Apartment Buildings

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

Nowadays, many people live in apartment buildings. The best place for them to light is in a window facing the street or on a porch facing the street, as this is the most effective way of publicizing the miracle.

2. Private Homes

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

The Sages’ enactment seems to indicate that in the past there was no concern that the wind would blow out the Ĥanuka candles that were lit at the entrance to the home.

1. Where to Light

Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles

The Sages state: “Ĥanuka candles should be placed at the doorway, outside the home. One who lives on an upper floor places them in the window facing the street. In times of danger, it is sufficient to place them on the table”

15. Candle Lighting at Public Gatherings

Chapter 12: Lighting the Hanuka Candles

Many people glorify the miracle by lighting Ĥanuka candles wherever people gather, like at weddings, bar mitzvas, bat mitzvas, Ĥanuka parties, and lectures. But may one recite a berakha over the lighting at such an event?

14. Lighting in the Synagogue

Chapter 12: Lighting the Hanuka Candles

It is customary to light Ĥanuka candles in the synagogue, reciting all of the berakhot there that we recite at home. It is customary to light the candles between Minĥa and Ma’ariv.