DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 426 KB)
Hanukah – Should Hanukah Candles be Lit at a Minyan in an Office?

Hanukah candles are lit each night at home and also in the synagogue. Although the Gemara makes no mention of the candle lighting in the synagogue, this is a time-honored custom that is documented already in the time of the Rishonim. The question was posed to Hacham Ovadia Yosef as to whether this practice applies only in the synagogue, or anywhere ten men assemble for prayer. For example, many observant Jews host Minha and Arbit services in their offices. Should candles be lit at such a Minyan?

Hacham Ovadia answered that indeed, anytime ten men assemble for an evening Minyan the candles should be lit with the Berachot. Moreover, if ten men assemble for some other event, such as a family Hanukah celebration, candles should be lit, and if the people had not yet lit the candles at home, the Berachot should be recited. This ruling is written in Yalkut Yosef (p. 96).

Summary: Anytime ten men assemble for an evening Minyan during Hanukah, even if this does not occur in a synagogue, the candles should be lit, with a Beracha.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Se’uda Shelishit
Halachot and Customs of Minha on Shabbat
Reciting “Ata Honantanu” in Arbit on Mosa’eh Shabbat
The Importance of Torah Study on Shabbat
Musaf on Shabbat – The Silent Amida and the Hazan’s Repetition
The Unique Importance of Musaf Prayer on Shabbat
The Status of Food Cooked by a Non-Jew on Shabbat for a Jewish Patient
Asking a Non-Jew to Prepare Food for an Ill Patient on Shabbat
Torah Reading and Using Shabbat as a Day for Learning
Asking a Non-Jew to Carry a Flashlight on Shabbat
Is it Preferable to Ask a Non-Jew to Perform Melacha on Shabbat When Someone’s Life is in Danger?
May One Take Something That is Hanging on a Tree on Shabbat?
Guidelines for When the Refrigerator Light Was Not Deactivated Before Shabbat
Is it permissible to ask a gentile to retrieve something from a car on Shabbat?
“Lehem Mishneh” – Using a Borrowed Loaf, or a Loaf That Had Been Attached to Another
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found