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...
Yom Tob Candle Lighting
What To Do If You Miss 'ViTodienu' On Motzae Shabbat That is Yom Tov
May One Cook on Yom Tob Food Which He is Unable to Eat?
Yom Tob Candle Lighting – Should the Beracha be Recited Before or After the Lighting?
Laws of Kiddush and Meals on Yom Tov
Traditional Recitations on Holidays According to the Customs of Halab
Carrying Outdoors on Yom Tob
If a Person Realizes Upon Arriving in the Synagogue That He Had Not Prepared an Erub Tabshilin
Does an Erub Tabshilin Allow Cooking on the First Day of Yom Tob for Shabbat?
Which Foods are Suitable for the Erub Tabshilin?
Must a Guest Prepare an Erub Tabshilin?
What Is The Latest Time On Erev Yom Tov, One Can Make Eruv Tavshilin?
Separating Halla from Dough on Yom Tob
Is it Permissible to Squeeze Fruit on Yom Tob?
The Controversy Surrounding the Recitation of the “Yag Middot” on Yom Tob
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found