Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 23a) relates that
when R’ Zeira was a guest before he got married, he would pay his hosts in
order to contribute to the mitzva of lighting the menora. Once he
got married, he relied on others to light on his behalf at his home when he was
away. Following this, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 677:1) writes that a guest should
contribute to their host’s candles unless someone can light for them at their
home. The Shulchan Aruch Harav (OC 263:9) and R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas
6:43) write that if one is not paying one’s host for food and board, one can
assume that their host is giving them the necessary oil for the menora,
too.
The Mishna Berura (677:3; 7) writes that ideally the guest
should light their own menora. Sefardim who follow the Shulchan Aruch (OC 671:2) and only light one menora
per house would participate in their host’s lighting.
The Taz (677:2) and Mishna Berura (677:12) write that one
who is eating out but sleeping at home must light at home. While the Biur
Halacha (677:7) writes that one needs to be staying at one’s host for
eight days in order to light there, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo,
Chanuka 14:18) and R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:391) maintain
that staying one night is sufficient. If one is rushing back home straight
after Shabbos, they should light there. Otherwise, one should light where they
have been staying.
R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe YD 3:14:5) explains that
people will understand if one is away from their home why no one has lit there.
If one plans on returning at night to their home, however, people may suspect
that they were home and haven’t lit. One should endeavour, therefore, to either
light before one goes out or arrive back before everyone goes to bed.
In conclusion, one who goes away for Shabbos should light
before Shabbos in their host’s home. If they are going home straight after
Shabbos, they should light at home. Otherwise, they should light where they
have been staying.
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