DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 792 KB)
Chanukah- If One Forgot to Light

The Aruch Hashulhan (halachic work by Rabbi Yehiel MichelEpstein,1829-1908, OC 670:8) discusses the case of someone who did not light one night of Chanukah. He rules that he has lost the misva for that day. There is no significance to lighting the next day, because the obligation is only at night. Even if he would artificially create a darkened room, there is no misva.

However, he can and should continue to light on subsequent nights with a beracha. Even if he missed all seven nights, on the last night he would light eight candles with a beracha. This ruling is a rejection of the opinion brought in the Beit Yosef that compares the halacha of Chanukah with Sefirat HaOmer. If one forgot to count a day of the Omer, he does not continue to count with a beracha.
The Aruch Hashulhan explains that the nature of the obligation of lighting on Chanukah is fundamentally different from the obligation of counting the Omer. The emphasis of the Omer is on counting consecutive days. Therefore, if one forgot a day, the entire series is lost. Whereas, on Chanukah, each night stands by itself. In fact, the primary obligation is only to light one candle for each night.

SUMMARY: If a person missed a night of lighting on Chanukah, he does not light the next day, but he does continue to light on subsequent nights with a beracha.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Does One Recite a Beracha Over a Secondary Food That Was Brought Only After He Recited the Beracha Over the Primary Food?
If One Eats the Secondary Food Before the Primary Food
The Beracha Over Cereal with Milk, and Yogurt with Fruit
If One Recited a Beracha Over a Cracker With Cheese, and Some Cheese Was Left Over
If a Person Changes His Mind and Decides Not to Eat After Listening to a Beracha
If a Person Mistakenly Concluded “Al Ha’mihya” With the Words “Al Ha’perot”
Fulfilling One’s Requirement by Listening to a Beracha Recited by Another Person
The Requirement of “Shem U’malchut” in a Beracha
Does the Beracha of “Gefen” Cover Other Beverages if One Does Not Intend to Drink More Wine?
Halachot Concerning the Berachot Over Wine, Fruit Juice and Coffee
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Beer or Whiskey Drunk During a Maal if HaMosi Was Recited?
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Tea and Coffee Drunk After a Meal If Ha'Mosi Was Recited ?
Must One Recite a Beracha Over Water or Wine During a Meal Where One Recited Ha'motzi?
Is Wine Still Considered A ‘Bore Peri HaGefen’ And Acceptable for Kiddush If It is Diluted
The Sequence of Berachot When Eating Cake With Coffee
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found