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...
Making a Zimun When a Third Person Joins After the First Two Finished Eating
Can People Form a Zimun if One Person’s Food is Forbidden for the Others?
When is Birkat Ha’mazon a Torah Obligation?
Can People Sitting at Separate Tables Join Together for a Zimun?
Birkat HaMazon If One Ate a Ke’zayit of Bread Slowly, Over the Course of an Extended Period
Kavana During Birkat Ha’mazon
Must the One Who Leads Birkat Ha’mazon Hold the Cup Throughout the Sheba Berachot?
“She’hakol” and “Boreh Nefashot” if One is Drinking Intermittently in One Location
Using for Kiddush or Birkat Ha’mazon a Cup of Wine From Which One Had Drunk
If the Group or Part of the Group Recited Birkat Ha’mazon Without a Zimun
If Three People Ate Together and One Needs to Leave Early
Should Abridged Texts of Birkat Ha’mazon be Printed in Siddurim?
Making a Zimun When a Third Person Joined After the First Two Finished Eating
The Importance of Using a Cup of Wine for Birkat Ha’mazon; Adding Three Drops of Water to the Cup
If One Ate Half a “Ke’zayit” of Fruit Requiring “Al Ha’etz,” and Half a “Ke’zayit” of Other Fruit
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found