28 Elul 5770 |
September 7 2010 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
.jpg)
1. There was a custom not to do any work on the first and last days of Chanuka in order to make Chanuka look/feel like Pesach and Sukkot! (Chayai Adam 154:2)
2. If one spends Shabbat at someone’s house, many authorities contend that one may kindle the menorah there on Motzei Shabbat before leaving (Tshuvos V’Hanhagos 1:391). Some authorities suggest that if one does this, he should not leave immediately after lighting, but should spend some time, preferably a half-hour, appreciating the lights before leaving (ibid.).
3. Light up: According to the Gr’a, the best time to light is immediately after sunset, whereas most Rishonim rule that it is preferable to kindle at nightfall or shortly before. The usually accepted approaches are to kindle sometime after sunset but before it is fully dark. Rav Moshe Feinstein kindled the menorah ten minutes after sunset, the Chazon Ish lit his menorah twenty minutes after sunset, while others contend that the optimal time to light the menorah is twenty-five minutes after sunset. Believe it or not, there are MANY more opinions as to when we should light.
4. Many people err and think that one may fulfill the mitzvah by kindling the menorah at someone else’s house while visiting (i.e. people who invite guests to their house for dinner and have them light a menorah). The problem with this is that one is required to kindle Chanukah lights at one’s own house. Therefore, the guest must kindle the Chanukah lights at his own house and then go to his friend’s house for the festive meal (Taz 677:2; Mishnah Berurah 677:12).
5. The Gemara teaches that someone who is careful with the mitzvah of Chanuka lighting will merit to have sons who are scholars (Shabbat 23b, see Rashi). This is puzzling, because as all observant Jews kindle Ner Chanukah, why aren’t all our sons scholars? The Rishonim explain that this bracha applies only to someone who observes the mitzvah carefully in all its details.
6. Fridays it is best to daven mincha before lighting the candles (Kitzur) but davening afterwards is ok as well. (Aruch Hashulchan)
7. If there was enough oil to last one day, and the oil lasted 8 days, that means there was only 7 days of a miracle!! Why then is Chanuka celebrated 8 days?! The first day was not a miracle – there was enough oil for that day. (There are about 200 answers to this question).
8. Why don’t we keep an extra day of Chanuka in the Diaspora like we keep an extra day for Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot?
Chag Sameach!
This site is powered by PBCSTechnology.