|
Chanukah begins
Sunday Night!
THE LAWS OF CHANUKAH:
Chanukah begins
on the evening of the 25th of Kislev and continues for eight days.
- For the
entire eight days of Chanukah it is forbidden to fast or to eulogize.
- It is
permitted to work; however it is customary for women not to work for
at least the first half hour of the candles' burning, and some have
the custom not to work for the entire time of burning. The types of
activities that are forbidden are things like sewing and laundry etc.
(Cooking is permitted.)
- There is no
obligation to have festive meals; however it is customary to celebrate
by eating special meals anyway, because of the fact that the
dedication of the Temple and Altar took place during Chanukah.
- It is
customary to sing during the meals songs that thank and praise Hashem.
To sing and speak about Torah makes the meal into a seudat mitzvah, a
meal of religious significance.
- It is
customary to eat milk foods because Yehudit, daughter of Yochanan the
High Priest, was taken to be defiled by the Greek ruler Holofernes.
She fed him cheese (to make him thirsty) and wine (to quench his
thirst); and after getting him drunk she killed him. This was one of
the events that sparked the Maccabean uprising. Food fried in oil is
also eaten to commemorate the miracle of the Menorah. Latkes and
donuts are the most common foods.
- One should
not fast during Chanukah, even on the occasion of a parent's yarhzeit
(anniversary of death).
- The
festivities of Chanukah should be combined with study of Torah.
Although many people have a custom to play card games on Chanukah, the
Mishna Berurah states that, "He who cares for his soul should not
involve himself in card games."
- It is
obligatory to light candles, and one should even borrow money to
fulfill this mitzvah. If a poor person needs money for Chanukah
candles the community is obligated to provide for him.
- The minimum
obligation is that every household should have one candle burning
every night. It is customary to be scrupulous regarding this mitzvah:
to have one candle on the first night and an additional candle every
night (1-8), and for everyone in the house as well.
- Any type of
oil is acceptable for use in the menorah, however, it is best to use
olive oil. The oil should not be made of a forbidden substance, nor
should it be something from which it is forbidden to derive benefit.
- The menorah
should be similar to the Menorah in the Temple and hence most
authorities forbid using electric lights or gas lamps.
- The light
should be clear, and the wicks should not flicker
- Wax candles
are also acceptable, providing they have a single wick.
- All wicks
are acceptable, but it is best to use cotton. The same wicks may be
used over and over again.
- It is
correct to have a Menorah of glass or metal if one is lighting with
oil, since other substances such as clay become disgusting after one
use. If one can afford it, it is correct to buy a beautiful Menorah.
- If one is
using candles a pre–made Menorah is not necessary.
- If a number
of people are lighting in one household they should make a slight
separation between their menorahs so that there is no confusion to the
observer as to the number of candles.
à
- Ideally,
the Menorah should be placed outside the house to the left of the
entrance. Since anti-Semitism was so common throughout Jewish history
it became customary among may communities to place the Menorah inside
the house, near the entrance or on the table. In many families it is
the custom to place the menorah in a window facing the public,
especially where many people share one entrance (e.g., apartment
building). In Israel it is customary to light outside in a special box
that prevents the flames from blowing out.
- In most
Yeshivot and Seminaries, it is customary for students to place their
menorahs in the dining room at windows facing the street or public
thoroughfare. (Lighting in the dormitories is usually a fire hazard
and should therefore be avoided)
- The menorah
should be no lower than three tfachim from the floor (approx. 10.5
inches or 27cm) and should be no higher than 20 amot from ground level
(35.5 ft or 10.8 m). Ideally, it should be about 10 tfachim high (35
inches or 90 cm).
- The Menorah
should have all the candle or wicks on the same level, none higher or
lower than the others.
- It is
customary to have an additional candle (the shamash) with which to
light the other candles and in order to use it's light. The shamash
should be placed in a way that shows that it is not one of the
Chanukah candles.
- It is
forbidden to derive benefit from the light of the Menorah just as it
was forbidden to derive benefit from the Menorah in the Temple, and
also in order to show that its purpose of the Menorah is for a
Mitzvah, not just for illumination.
- It is
preferable to have the candles in a straight line, and not in a
semi-circle, however it is permitted to have them in a semi-circle
providing each candle is clearly separated from the others.
- It is
prohibited to light the shamash from the Chanukah candles.
- Left over
wicks and oils should be destroyed after Chanukah (except for unused
oil left in bottle) since they may not be used for anything else. One
should not store the used wicks and oil for the next year, since there
is a probability that it will be used for profane purposes by
accident.
- There are
different customs as to the lighting of the Menorah. Some light at
sunset. Some light about ten minutes after sunset and some light 1/2
hour after. Some specifically light after the evening service is
recited (Maariv). Ideally a person should follow the custom of his
father. If this is not known or is inapplicable for any reason, one
should follow the custom of the local community.
- It is
obligatory to put in enough oil, or a long enough candle to burn for
at least 1/2 hour after nightfall (i.e. the appearance of three medium
size stars).
- In
exceptional circumstances one may light one and a quarter hours before
sunset with a blessing. (However one should be careful to put in more
oil or to use longer candles). If possible it is better to appoint an
agent to light candles at the correct time, than to light early. .
- If one
forgot or was not able to light at the correct time, one may light as
long as people are still awake in the house in which one is lighting.
- One should
prepare the wicks and candles etc. before Maariv (if you light after)
or well before the time of lighting in order to light the Menorah at
the correct time.
- It is best
to light in the presence of many people in order to publicise the
miracle.
- On the
first night three brachot, blessings are recited. "Lehadlik ner
shel Chanukah", "She asa nissim" and
"Shehecheyanu". .
- On the
other nights only the first two blessings are said.
- All the
blessings should be recited before actually lighting the candles.
First light the Shamash before the blessings to avoid delay. It is
forbidden to speak between the recitation of the blessings and the
completion of candle lighting.
- "Haneirot
Halalu" is recited either during or after the lighting of the
additional candles.
- "Maoz
tsur yeshuaty" then sung. à
- Place first
candle on the extreme right of the Menorah. On the second night add a
candle on the left. Light the newest candle first and proceed to the
right.
- There are
different customs regarding the placement of the candles, some follow
the right and left of the observer from outside, some follow the right
and left of the person lighting inside.
- Do not
remove the Shamash from the wick until the flame catches on most of
the wick.
- One does
not add candles if they forgot to light on any night..
- The Menorah
should not be moved after is has been lit.
- If the
Menorah was lit in accordance with the requirements of Jewish law and
it was extinguished, one is not obligated to relight it, but one may
relight it without reciting a blessing.
- If the
Menorah was not lit properly in the first place, or was lit in a windy
place and blew out then one is obligated to relight if it went out
within 1/2 hour after nightfall.
- On Friday
afternoon, the Chanukah candles should be lit before the
Shabbat candle-lighting time (if one accepted Shabbat too early, it is
forbidden to light Chanukah candles). Mincha should be said before lighting,
if possible.
- Remember to
put in more oil or bigger candles on Friday, so that they burn 1/2
hour after nightfall – Tzeit Hakochavim/3 Stars. (at least 1 ½ hours
minimum) At home light just before the Shabbat
candles, (without of course delaying the lighting of the Shabbat
candles)
- When
lighting on Saturday night, some authorities say that one should light
Chanuka candles before Havdalah, others say after Havdalah. One should
follow their family custom in this. (Mishna Berurah 681:2 and Aruch
HaShulchan 681:2). One may not use the Menorah as the candle for
Havdalah. Our custom is Havdallah first at home but in shul
Chanukah candles are lit first.
- If one is a
guest at someone's house (and staying there), one
should give the owner a small amount of money to buy a portion in
their candles and one may fulfil the obligation through the owner.
Alternatively the guest may light his own Menorah.
- If one is
eating out then one should light the Menorah at their place of
residence.
- During
morning prayers, Shacharit, one should recite the full Hallel every
day.
- "Al
hanissim" the special paragraph of prayers for Chanukah is added
in the silent prayers, Shmoneh Esreh and also in Grace after meals. If
one forgot to say this addition, one should not repeat either Shmoneh
Esreh or Grace.
- It is
customary to light a Menorah in the Synagogue every evening. It is
placed at the southern wall of the Synagogue, in imitation of the
Menorah in the Temple in Jerusalem.
|
