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:
Should men also refrain?
A:
Some are strict, but housework is permissible according to the basic halachah
(Magen Avraham 670:1. Mishnah Berurah #3. Chazon Ovadiah
– Chanukah, p. 14).
Chanukah Lights in a Guard House
Q: Should someone on guard duty light in his guard house?
A: Yes. It is his temporary residence (Yalkut Yosef – Moadim
p. 208). It is also a nice way of publicizing the miracle.
Waiting
for One's Family to Light Chanukah Candles
Q:
Should one light Chanukah candles right away at nightfall or wait for one's
spouse?
A:
If one lights inside the house, he should wait. If one lights
outside, he may wait as long as there are still passersby (The Chafetz Chaim’s
rebbe, Rebbe Nachumke of Grodno, once waited several hours until his wife
returned home before lighting the Chanukah lights. The Chafetz Chaim
asked him why he waited, and his teacher explained that if one can only buy
either Chanukah candles or Shabbat candles, we rule that he should buy Shabbat
candles, since Shabbat candles are for "Shalom Bayit" - peace and
tranquility of the home [Shabbat 23b. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim
678:1]. "If Shabbat candles take precedence over Chanukah
candles because of Shalom Bayit, then all the more so I should wait for my
wife, since if I don't wait for her, she may be distraught." Ha-Rav
Yosef Shalom Elyashiv explains, however, that this conduct of Rebbe Nachumke
only applies outside of Israel where people light Chanukah candles inside: since
the lighting is publicizing the miracle to his family, we therefore take
"Shalom Bayit" into consideration. But in Eretz Yisrael,
where we light outside, we must light while there are passersby in order to
publicize the miracle to them. If it is
too late, we do not fulfill the Mitzvah.
We therefore do not take "Shalom Bayit" into
consideration. Peninei Chanukah, pp.
172-173).
Operation
during Chanukah
Q:
Is it permissible to undergo surgery during Chanukah even though the person
will not be able to light Chanukah candles?
A:
Yes. It is permissible for a person to put himself in a situation
where he will be unable to fulfill a Mitzvah on account of Pikuach Nefesh
(preserving life). See Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv brought in
Ashrei Ish, p. 233.
Segulah
for Chanukah Wicks
Q:
I heard that there is a Segulah to find a match by taking the leftover oil and
wicks from the Chanukiyah, burning them, and then walking over them 7
times. What is the source?
A:
Nonsense (And Ha-Rav Ben Tzion Mutzafi wrote in Shut Doresh Tzion: I have not
heard about this).
[By
the way, regarding burning the wicks, the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 677:4)
writes that one should burn the leftover oil in the Chanukiyah at the
conclusion of Chanukah. The commentaries add that the same should be
done with the wicks, which are saturated with the oil. The reason
one should burn them is because they were set aside for a Mitzvah and may not
be used for another purpose (such as burning or eating). If they are
put aside for the next year, there is a fear that they will accidentally be
used (see Tur ibid. and Mishnah Berurah #19).
If
so, it would appear that there is no obligation to burn them according to the
basic Halachah, since the only fear is that someone may use them. It
would also therefore be permissible to bury them or place them in a plastic bag
and throw them away.
In
his commentary on Pirkei Avot, 'Az Yomru' (pp. 131-133), Ha-Rav Yitzchak Aharon
Goldberger, Dayan and Rosh Yeshiva of Chasidei Pupa, writes that he discussed
this question with the Admor of Pupa. Rav Goldberger once saw the
Admor in the middle of the night burning the wicks in the courtyard, moving
them around with a stick in the fire until they were completely ash. Rav
Goldberger said that perhaps there is no obligation to burn the wicks, just as
it is permissible to throw out detached Tzitzit as long as it is done in a non-disgraceful
manner, or to place them in a Geniza according to the custom of those who are
meticulous in Mitzvah observance (Shulchan Aruch and Rama, Orach Chaim
21:1). Similarly, it is permissible to wrap separated Challah in
paper and throw it in the garbage if it is difficult to burn it, so that no
mishap occurs (Mahar"i Steif brought in Teshuvot Ha-Maor. And
also brought in Mo'adim Uzmanim 7:177. See also Shut Minchat
Yitzchak 4:13).
The
Admor of Pupa responded that perhaps his words are correct, but since our Sages
used the term "to burn it", he prefers to perform the obligation
according to what our Sages said. He is therefore particular to
completely burn the wicks. And this is the Minhag among some
Chasidim, and the meticulous burn them among a large group of people.
Ha-Rav
Chaim Kanievski, however, answered that the wicks may be buried (Shut Yadon
Moshe 12:71).
This, however, has no connection to a Segulah – M.T.]
