DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 1.23 MB)
Hanukah: If the Candles Blew Out After Lighting

The famous Halachic rule states: "Hadlaka Osah Misva"-The Misva of Hanukah candles is fulfilled immediately upon lighting. Therefore, "Kavta- En Zakuk La"-If the candles inadvertently blew out immediately after being lit, it is not obligatory to relight them, as long as they had enough oil to potentially burn the requisite time. This applies not only to lighting on weekdays, but even Ereb Shabbat, when they blew out before dark.

If one extinguished the candles on purpose, he should relight without a Beracha. If they blew out inadvertently, and one wants to be stringent and relight them, Hacham Ovadia rules Tavo Alav Beracha, it is praiseworthy. This is especially true on Ereb Shabbat, when some Poskim rule that by law he is obligated to relight.

If on the sixth night, the first candle went out before he lit the sixth, The Biur Halacha states that although he lit a total of six candles, it is not considered "Mehadrin Min HaMehadrin"-the ideal way to fulfil the Misva, since the six candles were not all lit at the same time.

The Mishna Berura rules that "Kavta En Zakuk La" applies only if the candles were lit in a place that was suitable for lighting. Therefore, if it was windy at the time of lighting and the candles became extinguished, they must be relit. Hacham Bension discusses whether this applies to those who light outside in the special glass boxes. The boxes do have a glass cover that prevents the wind from entering. On the other hand, at the actual time of lighting the box is open and the wind can enter. He rules that even if the candle blew out while the box was still open, he does not have to relight it, since the box is designed to be outside.

SUMMARY
Even if the candles blew out inadvertently immediately after lighting, it is not required to relight them, even on Ereb Shabbat. If one wants to relight them, it is praiseworthy. If one blew them out on purpose, he must relight, albeit without a Beracha. If the candles blew out from the wind, while being lit in the special glass box outside, it is not required to relight them.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Must Rings Be Removed Before Netilat Yadayim?
Netilat Yadayim: Washing Without a Utensil, With Liquids Other Than Water, and With Hot Water
If One Forgot to Recite the Beracha of “Al Netilat Yadayim” Before Drying His Hands
May a Person Answer “Amen” After Washing Netilat Yadayim But Before Drying His Hands?
Saying Birkat Hagomel Within 3 Days and Laws of Birkat Hagomel Following A Sickness
Reciting Asher Yasar to Avoid Sickness
Reciting 100 Berachot Each Day To Protect From A Plague
Reciting a Beracha Over a Whole Food Product
If a Person Ate an Amount of “Mezonot” Food Requiring Birkat Ha’mazon, and Cannot Remember if He Recited Birkat Ha’mazon
The Time-Frame Within Which Consuming a Large Amount of Cake or Cookies Requires Birkat Ha’mazon
Reciting Ha’mosi and Birkat Ha’mazon Over “Pat Ha’ba’a Be’kisnin”
Must a Person Recite Birkat Ha’gomel After Swimming in the Ocean?
May Birkat Ha’gomel be Recited at Night?
If One Ate Fruit for Dessert After the Table or Tablecloth Was Removed
Which Beracha Does One Recite Over Garlic?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found