DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is In Memory of
 Yehoshua ben Sarah (Alfred Sutton)

Dedicated By
His Children and Grandchildren

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 620 KB)
Chanukah- Should One Light When In A Place Full of Goyim Even If His Wife Lights In His Stead At Home

Generally speaking, a person who spends one of the nights of Chanukah away from home is not required to light Chanukah candles if his wife lights at home. He fulfills his obligation through his wife's lighting, and he therefore does not light Chanukah candles in his present location.

The Shulchan Aruch (677:3) does, however, make one exception to this rule (listen to audio for precise citation). Namely, if a person travels in a place with no Jews at all, such that he will not see any Chanukah candles that night, then he must, indeed, light Chanukah candles in his present location and recite the Berachot. This ruling is based on the position of the Mahari Abuhav (Spain-Israel, 1433-1493), which Rabbi Yosef Karo (author of the Shulchan Aruch) cites in his work Beit Yosef.

The Peri Chadash (Rabbi Chizkiya Da Silva, Italy, 1659-1698) disputes this ruling of the Shulchan Aruch, arguing that since the man fulfills his obligation through his wife's lighting, he cannot recite the Berachot over his own lighting. The first Beracha mentions that God "commanded us to kindle the Chanukah candle," and this individual cannot possibly speak of God as commanding him to light candles, given that his obligation is already fulfilled through his wife's lighting.

As for the final Halacha, Chacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Chazon Ovadia (Laws of Chanukah, p. 158), follows the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch, requiring a person in this situation to light Chanukah candles with the Berachot. He adds that in such a case one should preferably have clear intention not to fulfill his obligation through his wife's lighting, so that according to all views he will now be required to personally light Chanukah candles and may thus recite the Berachot without concern.

This Halacha is very applicable to those who travel on business during Chanukah. For example, a person who travels during Chanukah in areas in the Far East with no Jewish community whatsoever must light candles with the Berachot even if his wife lights at home.

Summary: A person who is away from home on a night during Chanukah fulfills the candle lighting obligation through his wife's lighting. If, however, he is in an area without any Jews at all, he must light candles with the Berachot, and should preferably have clear intent not to fulfill his obligation through his wife's lighting.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Recitation of Sidkatecha at Minha on Shabbat
Does the Concept of “Hasi Shiur” Apply to the Shabbat Prohibitions?
The Prohibition Against Writing on Shabbat
The Mukse Status of Nut Shells and Olive Pits
The Proper Way to Discard Nutshells and Eggshells on Shabbat
Savings Accounts That Pay Interest on a Per-Day Basis
Smelling and Distributing Snuff in the Synagogue
Reciting the Beracha of “Boreh Me’oreh Ha’esh” During Habdala
Observing Shabbat in a Situation Where One Has Lost Track of the Days
The Ancient Practice of Blowing the Shofar at the Onset of Shabbat, and its Contemporary Significance
Borer – Separating Two Edible Foods on Shabbat
Giving Charity in Lieu of a Sin-Offering For Inadvertently Violating Shabbat
Wearing Glasses, Sunglasses and Galoshes Outdoors on Shabbat
Violating Shabbat to Administer Medical Care to a Critically Ill Patient
Receiving the Extra Soul Through the Recitation of Barechu on Friday Night
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found