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...
Is It Permissible to Borrow on Shabbat?
Instructing a Non-Jew During Twilight
May One Instruct a Non-Jew to Perform a Torah Violation of Shabbat in an Unusual Manner?
Is it Permissible on Shabbat To Talk About Performing a Melacha which is a Misva?
Is It Permissible to Announce Lost Mukseh Items on Shabbat
Listening to “Me’en Sheba” in Lieu of the Amida on Friday Night
Should Kiddush Be Recited in the Synagogue on Friday Night?
The Recitation of “Bameh Madlikin” on Friday Night
Tahanunim on Ereb Shabbat
The Recitation of “Va’yechulu” After the Amida on Friday Night
Turning Off the Electric Lights Before Lighting Shabbat Candles
The Reading of Shir Ha’shirim on Friday Night
The Recitation of Lecha Dodi on Friday Night
Washing Dishes on Shabbat
May One Ask a Non-Jew to Turn on an Air Conditioner on Shabbat?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found