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...
The Unique Importance of the Misva of “Peru U’rbu”
May a Grown Child Move Away From His Parents’ City?
Hacham Ovadia Yosef zt”l: In Memoriam
Folding Bedding on Shabbat
Is it permissible to wear a Bite Plate, Dentures, or Invisalign in the public domain on Shabbat
Bathing on Yom Tob
Sisit: may a Woman Wear Sisit?
Sisit: Removing the Strings from the Tallit
The Misva of Escorting Guests
Sisit: Where Should the Hole Be Placed?
Sisit: The Knots and the Coils
Sisit: The Ideal Strings for Sisit
Sisit- May One Tie Sisit to a Tallit at Night?
Sisit: Wrapping the Sisit String; Tying Knots at the Ends of the Sisit Strings
Sisit: Intent When Spinning the Strings
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found