Question:
I’m helping to organize a concert on Chanuka and have been asked to
light the menora. Should I do so with a beracha?
Answer:
R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:398) writes that even
though the minhag is to light the menora in Shul, one
should not do so elsewhere with a beracha. Thus, if one davens in
a minyan outside a Shul, or attends a wedding, there is no need
to light a menora. If one chooses to do so, they must do so
without saying a beracha.
R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 6:65:3) and R’
Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 15:30) explain that the mitzva of lighting the menora
only applies to lighting in one’s home. Nowadays, we have a minhag to
light in Shul with a beracha, too,
though that wasn’t unanimous among the poskim. Thus, we cannot extend
this minhag to light at parties, etc. with a beracha.
R’
Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 4:65) points out that as the mitzva is to
light at home, one wouldn’t fulfil one’s obligation at such a lighting. The minhag
to light in Shul is reminiscent of
lighting the menora in the Beis Hamikdash. Thus, even if one
knows that there will be someone present who won’t be lighting at home, it
doesn’t help to recite a beracha on their behalf (See Az Nidberu 6:75).
Nonetheless, others disagree. The Rivash (111)
writes that the mitzva to light the menora includes lighting it
at the entrance to one’s home for pirsumei
nisa, to publicize the miracle. As we generally light indoors
nowadays, it is important that we also participate in a public lighting. Thus, R’ Binyamin Zilber (Az Nidberu 5:37) writes that lighting in shuls nowadays ensures that we are
fulfilling the mitzva properly. Lighting in a public place where others
may not have lit is even more important than lighting at shul and one
who does so should light the menora with a beracha.
R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer 7
OC 57:6) writes that while most poskim write that one should light in
public locations without reciting a beracha, one may do so with a beracha
if they want to. Ideally, they should daven maariv with a minyan
and light beforehand, as one would in Shul.
No comments:
Post a Comment