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 Rain Water or Air-Condition Condensation Considered Mukse?
Using Baby Wipes on Shabbat
Items Serving as a Base for Mukse
Is It Permissible To Move Money On Shabbat With Parts Of Your Body Other Than Your Hands
Carrying and Transferring Is Forbidden On Shabbat From The Private Domain To The Public Domain
Are Forbidden Foods Considered Mukse on Shabbat?
May One Slice Fruits on Shabbat?
The Mukse Status of Lulav, Pesah Dishes, Shofar, Sisit Strings, and Paper
Is It Permissible To Smell A Fruit Tree or Frangrance Tree on Shabbat
Are Garments With Shatnez Mukse?
Do Disposable Items Become Mukse After Use on Shabbat?
May One Use a Permissible Item to Move a Mukse Item on Shabbat?
May One Move A Utensil on Shabbat That has No Permitted Function To Make Space?
May the Mohel's Knife Be Handled on Shabbat?
Washing Fruits and Vegetables on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found