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Halachot of Chanukah
- Since Maimonides recounts the story of Chanukah in his Code of
Jewish Law, it is important to review the history of the Chanukah
story including the victory over the Greek-Syrians and the miracle of
the oil in the Beit Hamikdash. One should try to sit around after
lighting the Menorah and talk about the miracle.
- If one person is lighting for another, a woman may kindle the Menorah
for a man, and vice versa. Although a woman may light the
candles to exempt her husband, this should preferably not be done
unless he will not be home to light them himself.
- A person wishing to join with another in the mitzvah should give an
amount of money to become a partner in the ownership of the oil,
wicks, or candles. The person doing the lighting may give a share
of the oil or candles as a gift instead of accepting payment.
- When lighting the Menorah inside the house, the lights should be
placed at a window facing a public area. If this is not possible, they
should be placed facing a neighbor. In a hotel, one should light
their own candles.
- If you are going away for Shabbat, you should light at the house
where you will be staying. If you are returning to your home after
Shabbat, it is preferable to light at your own home, unless it will be
late when you get home.
- The lights should be lit at nightfall, although it is permissible to light
them at sunset. The lights must remain lit until half an hour after
nightfall (50 minutes after sunset).
- One should not begin a meal, learn, or do other work before lighting
the Menorah, from the time of lighting.
- While the lights are burning, work which is prohibited on Yom Tov is
customarily not performed. This also applies a half hour before the
time of lighting.
- On Erev Shabbat, all the candles or amount of oil should be large
enough to burn until half an hour after nightfall. If this is impossible,
at least one light should burn for this time. It is customary for the
Menorah to be lit immediately prior to lighting Shabbat candles.
- On Saturday night, it is questionable whether the Menorah or the
Havdalah candle is lit first. In shul, the Menorah and then Havdalah
is made. At home, one follows the custom of one’s family. In many
homes, Havdalah is done first because the mitzvah which is more
important is done first.
- All oils are permitted, though it is preferable to use olive oil. All
olive oil is kosher for use in the Menorah.
- Gas or electric lights are not permitted.
- The lights should be set in a straight row (not including the Shamash),
in order that the number of lights be recognizable by an
onlooker. For the same reason, a space of one inch should separate
the lights.
- If the lights are blown out before the required length of burning time,
they should be relit without repeating the bracha.
- It is forbidden to use the Chanukah light for any purpose (e.g., to
read or to eat by them). Similarly, one is not allowed to light a Chanukah
candle from another Chanukah candle. The Shamash candle
should be used exclusively. If the Shamash candle goes out,
before one is finished using it, be sure not to relight it from a Chanukah
candle.
- All brachot should be recited before beginning the lighting. The
reason for this is that all brachot are fully recited before the performance
of the mitzvah.
- Once the lights have burned for the required time (half hour), one is
allowed to extinguish the lights or then use them for some other
purpose (the latter possibility exists only of one made a condition
before kindling the lights).
- Al Hanissim is added in the Shemoneh Esrai and Birkat Hamazon. If
one forgot the Al Hanissim in Shemoneh Esrai until after the following
bracha, one does not go back and say it.
- One should not say Hanerot Halalu until the newest candle for that
night has been lit. One may begin saying it while kindling the other
lights.
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