DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 1.4 MB)
Mukse-May a Jew Instruct a Non-Jew To Move A Lit Candle on Shabbat

The Halacha discusses whether it is permitted to instruct a non-Jew to carry a lit candle, such as Shabbat candles or a Hanukah Menorah after the first half hour, into another room for illumination. To be clear, it would be prohibited to tell the non-Jew to light the lights. In this case, he is merely being asked to carry the Mukse candle. The Rema (276:3) permits doing so. The Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) explains this leniency is because the Jew could also find a permitted way to move the candle himself, e.g. in an indirect fashion. The Mishna Berura does require the non-Jew to exercise caution that moving the candle won’t cause the oil to extinguish the flame. However, according to the accepted ruling that there is no problem to instruct a non-Jew to perform a "Pesik Reshe"-an automatic prohibited outcome, this is not necessary.

----

After the candles burn out, the candlesticks are still Mukse, as a "Basees L’davar Ha’asur"- a base for a Mukse item. Even though the flame is already extinguished, the candlesticks remain Mukse, since they were already Mukse at Ben HaShmashot-with the advent of Shabbat. Nevertheless, Maran in 279:4 rules that if one makes a "Tenai"-that is, he stipulates at the time of candle lighting that after the flame goes out he intends to move it, the status of Basees would be neutralized, leaving the candlestick a "Keli Shemlachto L’isur", which may be moved for its place or for a permitted use. Moreover, Rabbi Akiva Eger (1761-1837), in his notes to the Shulhan Aruch cites the opinion of the Tashbes that if the "Tenai" was made, the candlestick become a "Keli Shemalchto L’Heter"-i.e. it is considered designated for permitted use, and may even be moved "MeHama L’sel"-for its own protection. Hacham BenSion (Ner Lesion p. 527) rules that one may rely on this leniency. The Ashkenzaim do not rely on this "Tenai."

SUMMARY

One may instruct a non-Jew to carry a lit candle to illuminate a dark room.

If one made a "Tenai" when lighting candle before Shabbat that he intends to move it after it is extinguished, he may move the candlestick even for its own protection.


 


Recent Daily Halachot...
In The Event One Forgot To Make Eruv Tavshilin, But Remembered While In Shul Right Before Yom Tov Began
Lighting a Gas Stove on Yom Tob
Carrying on Yom Tob
Is it Permissible to Squeeze Fruits on Yom Tob?
Is it Permissible to Cook for a Gentile on Yom Tob?
The Egg and Bread Set Aside for Erub Tabshilin
Yom Tob Candle Lighting: The Proper Time for Lighting, Reciting the Beracha Before Lighting
If a Person Did Not Recite Habdala on the Night After Yom Tob
Preparing Freshly-Squeezed Juice on Yom Tob
Laundry on Chol Ha'mo'ed
Hol HaMoed- Is It Permissible To Play Instruments, or for Ladies To Take Hair Cuts, or To Put On Make Up On Hol HaMoed
Is It Permissible For A Baal Mitzvah To Take A Hair Cut On Hol Ha’Moed
Is It Permissible To Prepare Floating Wicks on Yom Tov In Preparation for Lighting
Hol Hamoed- Is Writing Permissible on Hol Hamoed
Hol Hamoed- Is It Permissible To Have Your Car Repaired On Hol Hamoed
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found