Ha-Rav
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Surgery on Chanukah
Q: Is it permissible to
undergo surgery during Chanukah when as a result one will miss lighting
Chanukah candles?
A: Yes. It is permissible for a person to put himself
in a situation whereby he will lose out on performing a Mitzvah on account of
"Pikuach Nefesh" – safeguarding his life (see Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom
Elyashiv, brought in Ashrei Ish, p. 233).
Working when Candles are Lit
Q: Should women refrain from
working the entire time the Chanukah lights are lit?
A: It is enough to refrain
for a half an hour (Mishnah Berurah 670:4).
Q: Is housework is
permissible?
A: Yes. Food prep, washing dishes and similar
activities (Chazon Ovadiah – Chanukah, p. 12.
Shut Kinyan Torah 7:52 #3).
Q: If she is not at home?
A: It is permissible (Shut
Mishneh Halachot, Tanina 1:530).
Q: Should men also refrain?
A: Some are strict, but it is
permissible according to the basic halachah (Magen Avraham 670:1. Mishnah Berurah #3. Chazon Ovadiah – Chanukah, p. 14).
Chanukah Party for Mourner
Q: Is it permissible for a
mourner to go to a Chanukah party?
A: No (Halichot Shlomo, p.
320).
One Who is Careful to Light
Chanukah Lights
Q: Our Sages said that if one
is careful to light Chanukah candles he will merit children who are Torah
scholars - but many times this does not happen?
A: 1. Other reasons impede it
(see Shut Teshuvot Ve-Hanhagot 2:340).
2. This is a general parable. See
Ain Ayah (Shabbat 23b).
Permissible Uses of the
Chanukah Lights
Q: It is forbidden to use the
Chanukah lights except for looking at them, as we say in Ha-Nerot Ha-Lalu. Are there any cases where it is permissible
to use them?
A: 1. It is permissible to use
them for looking in a book to check a halachah relating to the Chanukah lights,
since using the light is for its own sake (Birkei Yosef 673:5. Shaarei Teshuvah ibid. #3). 2. It is permissible to have one's picture
taken next to the Chanukiyah, since this is not using its light (This is also
the ruling of Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv brought in Shut Va-Yishma Moshe vol.
1, p. 212).
Scented Candle
Q: Is it permissible to use a
scented candle for Chanukah lights?
A: Yes, and there is no
problem with benefitting from the scent since one is not benefiting from the
light (Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yoseh brought in Shut Ma'ayan Omer vol. 3, p. 332).
Blowing out Candles
Q: Is it true that it is
forbidden – all year – to blow out candles?
A: Some are particular to
refrain from doing so (Kol Bo #118). But
when performing a Mitzvah, we say that no bad will come to one who performs a
Mitzvah (Kaf Ha-Chaim, Yoreah Deah 116:115).
Lighting the Wrong Number of
Candles
Q: What should one do if he
lights either too many or too few candles on Chanukah?
A: Extinguish or add without
a blessing (Shut Ha-alef Lecha Shlomo, Orach Chaim #380. Chazon Ovadiah, p. 29. And see Shut Shevet Ha-Kehati 1:202).
Using Friend's Chanukiyah
Q: Is it permissible to use a
friend's Chanukiyah?
A: It is forbidden without
his permission (Ha-Measef 673, vol. 1 siman #55, based on Shut Beit Yaakov #3
that the principle: "A person is happy when his possessions are used for a
Mitzvah" only applies to Torah Mitzvot and not to Rabbinic Mitzvot).
