CHANUKA Some have the custom of preparing the Chanukiya in the morning for the evening. This not only serves the practical purpose of being ready to light on time without delaying to set up later, but it also commemorates the practice in the Beit HaMikdash called Hatavat HaNeirot, whereby the Kohen (Gadol) tended the Menora and prepared it in the morning for kindling in the late, late afternoon. Since our lighting on Chanuka directly commemorates the lighting of the Menora in the Beit HaMikdash, this suggestion provides a nice "added touch" to the mitzva and sybolism of Chanuka lighting. There are two practices as to when is the ideal time to light Chanuka lights during the week (i.e. except for Friday and Motza'ei Shabbat, when different factors affect the timing - see further). Minhag Yerushalayim (which many, but not everyone follows) is to light with the setting of the sun. For the first 5 nights, 4:40pm (Jerusalem) is a good time to light. Sunset varies slightly through Chanuka week (this year) and because there are two opinions as to how to measure sunset, 4:40pm is the recommended time. Other cities in Israel vary slightly from this optimum time (for those who will be lighting at sunset. The other opinion (that of "the rest of the world" is to light when the "light of the sun has left the sky", i.e. Stars-Out (a.k.a. Tzeit HaKochavim). Of course, there are different opinions as to when Stars-Out occurs. Except for Motza'ei Shabbat, most people will use an early-ish Stars-Out time, in order to be closer to the Minhag Yerushalayim timing, and because Z'RIZIM MAKDIMIM, people who are enthusiastic about doing mitzvot, do them "right away". 5:00pm will work for this early Stars-Out time this Chanuka (except for Motza"Sh - see further). 5:18-ish is a later Stars-Out time, based on the usual Shabbat-ending practice. Those who light with Stars-Out should light right after Maariv, unless they have a fixed time later in the evening for davening. Those who light with sunset should daven Maariv at the appropriate time, after candles. For those who must light early, the earliest time one may light is PLAG MINCHA. For all of Chanuka, we can use 3:40pm as PLAG. This will "work" throughout Chanuka and all over Israel. (PLAG times vary a bit, but all within the 5 minutes before 3:40pm (for this range of days). Those lighting early should remember that the candles or oil must be able to last until the minimum half-hour after Stars-Out. See further. Also know that the closer to sunset, the better is the early lighting. 3:35pm is TOO EARLY TO LIGHT - probably BRACHOT L'VATALA (brachot in vain) and no performance of the mitzva. 3:40pm is okay. 3:45pm is better. 3:50 is better still. Etc. Get the point? If it is a toss-up between lighting early or late, or between lighting early or appointing someone to light for you at the proper time, or between lighting late and appointing someone to light for you at the proper time — one should consult a Rav for a psak based on how early and how late, and any other relevant factors. Candles must burn at least a half hour after stars-out. This was the original time period after dark that people were still around outdoors. This was important for the PIRSUMEI NISA aspect of the mitzva. Although in our day, people are out later than this time, the halacha only requires the half hour after stars-out. However, it is recommended that one use longer candles or more oil to extend this time a little (one need not go overboard on this issue), in recognition of the expansion of the modern-times Pirsumei Nisa time-frame. TACHLIS: If one lit at 4:40 or 5:00 or earlier than 4:40 or as late as 5:18, then the candles must burn until at least 5:50pm, preferably somewhat longer. (Since Rabbeinu Tam's Stars-Out is 5:55-ish for Chanuka week, one might try to have his Chanuka lights burn at least until 6:25pm. This is not a requirement, but it does acknowledge the different opinions concerning Stars-Out. Treat this as a personal, off-the-record suggestion.) When an Olympic sprinter does 100m in 9.54s and comes in second behind one who ran it in 9.53s, we would say he ran a good second. If someone follows that same winner at 15 seconds, he's still second, but a poor second. Sometimes a less-than-perfect performance of a mitzva is a fine "second". But lighting early or late is a poor second, at best. Lighting early lacks an element of Pirsumei Nisa because a candle flame is not eye-catching (let's say) during daylight. Lighting late is not so good because of the opinions that the time-period for Pirsumei Nisa from the days of the Gemara remains the optimum time (and some say the ONLY time) for the fulfillment of the mitzva. Although we follow other opinions, it is far less than ideal to light late. A "good" excuse makes it okay, but not great. One should consult a Rav especially for recurring situations, such as coming home late from work or school, and the like. Remember that having someone light for you is often a valid alternative to your lighting for yourself, and sometimes it's even a preferred alternative. Ask your Rav. Brachot (including SHE'HE'CHE'YANU) should be recited BEFORE beginning to light the candles. This complies with the general rule for Brachot of Mitzva, that they be recited immediately before performance of the mitzva, if possible. This means, that even on the eighth night, the candles are not begun to be lit until the brachot are completed. From the second night on, the custom (a custom) is to "load" the Chanukiya from right to left, but to light it, left to right. At the doorpost, one loads it from the doorpost out, and lights it starting with the candle closest to the doorpost. The loading and lighting directions are not crucial to the performance of the mitzva, but there are reasons for the various practices. One should not just light and then go one to business as usual, but rather one should look at the candles for a while, ponder G-d's miracles, spend some time with the family talking about the message of Chanuka and how it relates to our time, play a little dreidel, sing a song or two, have some Chanuka fun. Notice on the other sheet of this Pull-Out that the word SHEL in the first bracha is in parentheses. There is a dispute as to whether the bracha ends NER SHEL CHANUKA or NER CHANUKA. One should follow his own (or family) minhag, if you have one (and remember it). If not, you might want to ask your Rav. Those who say NER CHANUKA have a bit of a problem if they sing the brachot. Erev & Motza'ei Shabbat Furthermore, the rule is that Chanuka candles are lit before Shabbat candles. Shabbat candle lighting in most places is 18-22 miutes before sunset. This time should not be tampered with. Chanuka candles should be lit a couple of minutes before Shabbat candles (even when different people are lighting). They should not be lit a lot before Shabbat candles, but in all cases, never before Plag. Jerusalem (and Petach Tikva) custom is to light Shabbat candles 40 minutes before sunset. There is an acceptable custom to delay Shabbat candles 15 to 20 minutes after the posted time (remember - Jerusalem and Petach Tikva only, or other places where the same practice is observed) so that one's Chanuka candles do not have to be lit so early. This matter should be explained well to the family so that misunderstandings do not arise. Be very careful not to get anywhere near sunset. Let 4:30pm be a "redline" for lighting candles (Chanuka or Shabbat) - otherwise, one runs the risk of encroaching on Shabbat. If you are late, be absolutely sure the sun is still in the sky - otherwise it is better not to light candles. It is highly preferable to daven Mincha BEFORE lighting Chanuka candles (since Mincha belongs to the day and Chanuka candles belong to the following night). This is SOP on all other days of the week. But on Friday, people will generally light candles at home and then go to shul for Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv. If this is the only minyan available to a person, then so be it. One should not daven Mincha without a minyan in order to be able to light after Mincha. Halacha permits one to daven Mincha after lighting if the alternative is to miss T'fila B'Tzibur (davening with a minyan), but it isn't an ideal situation. Best idea is to daven Mincha earlier in the afternoon, light candles at the proper time, and then go to shul for Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv. To reiterate: In all cases, lighting Chanuka candles on Friday requires larger candles or more oil, so that the Chanuka candles burn to at least 5:45-ish and preferably longer. A further recommendation is to hold Ma'oz Tzur for the Shabbat table with the other Zmirot, rather than singing it in the pre-Shabbat rush. It is also recommended that on Friday one make whatever preparations are feasible for Motzaei Shabbat lighting, so as not to unnecessarily delay the already-delayed (because of Shabbat) Chanuka candle lighting. If one has a spare Chanukiya, he/she can set it up for Motzaei Shabbat in advance. Where this is not practical, one should at least have candles, oil, wicks, matches, whatever, ready to go as soon as Shabbat is over. Two mitzvot to perform - Havdala and Chanuka candles. By the rule of TADIR (that which is more frequent should be done first), havdala should be said first. And by logic, one should "finish" with Shabbat and then light candles for the next day of Chanuka, which is Sat. night & Sunday. Many authorities hold that on Motzaei Shabbat, one should say havdala first and then light Chanuka candles. This opinion is followed by the majority of Chanuka-candle-lighting Jews all over the world. The Maharal (among others) is vehement in his insistence that you cannot possibly consider doing something so "weekday-ish" as lighting Chanuka candles, unless you have first said havdala. He rejects any argument to the contrary. In shul, it is the universal practice to light Chanuka candles before saying havdala, this to maximize Pirsumei Nisa in a situation where everyone present will be leaving for home shortly. At home, people will still be there for the Chanuka candles, so there is no need to light before havdala (according to those who follow this first opinion). Those who say havdala first can light their Shammash for the Chanuka candles with the havdala candle before extinguishing it, thus dovetailing two mitzvot. ON THE OTHER HAND... there is a strong argument for lighting Chanuka candles before havdala, even in the home. First of all, Shabbat is over when it is 5:18pm (some calendars might vary slightly) AND one has said Havdala in davening (ATA CHONANTANU in the Maariv Amida) OR at least said BARUCH HAMAVDIL BEIN KODESH L'CHOL. Havdala is NOT what ends Shabbat - it is what honors Shabbat as it departs. Even so, havdala should go first, except for one very important factor: The prime time (according to some, the only time) for Chanuka candles is ticking away. We cannot, of course, light Chanuka candles when it is still Shabbat. But we should maximize the amount of time of the "half-hour after" once we are allowed to light. Havdala will wait; Chanuka candles will not. Therefore, the OTHER opinion is that Chanuka candles go first and then havdala. This procedure comes with the reminder not to use the Chanuka candles for havdala, since one may not benefit from the Chanuka lights, and the bracha in havdala is specifically upon using the light (hence the examining of fingernails, etc.). Those who follow this opinion can light the havdala candle from the Shammash, thereby dovetailing one mitzva into another. Chanuka candles first is the opinion of the Vilna Gaon and many others, and is Minhag Yerushalayim. (Remember that not everyone in Yerushalayim follows the practices known as Minhag Yerushalayim.) This dispute is one of the few in halacha that is resolved in the following manner: "Whichever opinion you follow, you have performed correctly". Either procedure may be followed. Family and community custom should play a deciding role in this issue. Again, a Rav should be consulted, especially if one is considering a change in practice. Some say that those who light outdoors should follow the custom of lighting before havdala. Those who light indoors can take their pick. In either case, it is common to daven Maariv a bit earlier than usual to permit earlier lighting of Chanuka candles (but, of course, after Shabbat). Those who say V'YITEIN L'CHA should say it AFTER lighting Chanuka candles. Remember that Shabbat is paramount. In case of doubt as to whether Shabbat is being encroached upon, one should NOT light Chanuka candles. It must be DEFINITELY after Shabbat before lighting. But one should not unnecessarily delay the fulfillment of the mitzva of Chanuka candles. A note for Rabeinu Tam people: Those who follow the Shabbat-out time of Rabeinu Tam (72 minutes after sunset) and consider it to be the correct halachic time, must keep it on Motzaei Shabbat Chanuka, even though it means losing "prime time" for Chanuka candles. Those who keep Rabeinu Tam time as a CHUMRA (a strict measure, but accept the earlier time as halachic), might end Shabbat earlier on Motzaei Shabbat Chanuka, in order to fulfill the mitzva of Chanuka candles at their better time. It is advised to check this out with a Rav so that you will know the correct procedure. Indoor/Outdoor The original place for display of the Chanukiya was outdoors at the entrance to one's courtyard or home. Over many generations in exile, where lighting outdoors was often inconvenient to say the least, and sometimes dangerous, the practice evolved to light indoors. In some circumstances, the lighting was to be done at a window, so that the candles would be visible to passersby in the street. In other cases, the Chanuka lights were lit in a conspicuous location for the attention of the members of the household. Many people who have come to live in Israel, still light inside, at the window, as they had lit for years in their countries of origin. But others have gone back to the original practice of lighting outdoors. It seems that this is the preferred method in Yerushalayim. If you are considering changing any aspect of your Chanuka candle lighting routine, (candle to oil or vice versa, sunset to stars-out or vice versa, indoors to outdoors or vice versa, window to door or vice versa, each family member to one for the family or vice versa, etc.) it is advisable to consult a Rav. These pages should be considered a review of some – but not all – of the many Chanuka topics. Often, different opinions were presented, but there were still sides of the different issues that were left out. It has been said often, but we repeat, it is best to consult your Rav to clear up any doubts. In reference to Shabbat Chanuka, if Chanuka begins on a Friday, then Vayeishev is Shabbat Chanuka. If it starts on Shabbat, then there are two Shabbatot Chanuka, Vayeishev and Mikeitz. If Chanuka begins on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday, then Shabbat Chanuka is Mikeitz. (It can't begin on TUE.) Two sedras can be read on Shabbat Chanuka, when we fulfill this pasuk in part with the saying of Hallel and the singing of special Chanuka songs. They are Vayeishev (18% of the time) and Mikeitz (90% of the time - sometimes there are two Shabbatot Chanuka, hence the total percentage exceeds 100). The G'matriya of the two sedras together is 6+10+300+2 (318) + 40+100+90 (230) = 548. The G'matriya of the pasuk above is the same, 548. [The Vayeishev Homepage]
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