Menora in Flats

Question: We live on the third floor in a block of flats. Where should we light our menora?

Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 21b) teaches that one should light the menora outside the entrance to one’s home. However, one who lives in an attic should place their menora in the window facing the street. The Beis Yosef (OC 671:8) explains that if one placed the menora downstairs at the entrance to the house, it would not be clear that it belongs to those living in the attic.

The Mishna Berura (671:38; Shaar HaTziyun 671:42) writes that those who live in houses nowadays should ideally light in a window facing the street. Only if the window is higher than twenty amos from the ground, is it preferable to place at the entrance to the house.

However, the Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos Zahav OC 671:5) disagrees, arguing that as we light indoors, it does not matter if the window is twenty amos up from the ground outside. R' Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 4:65; 7:84) adds that even when one lights on a higher floor, it may be seen both by neighbours who live opposite, as well as those in one’s own flat (see Halichos Shlomo 14:5).

Similarly, R’ Yitzchak Yosef (Yalkut Yosef OC 671:20) writes that one who lives in a flat on a higher floor should light their menora in the window or in a glass box on their balcony.

In conclusion, one who lives in a flat should light in the window of their flat, even if it is over twenty amos up from the ground outside.