Child Lighting in Shul

Question: Is it appropriate to ask a ten-year-old boy to light the menora in shul?

Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 675:3) writes that there is a machlokes as to whether children can light the menora or not. The Rema writes that nowadays when everyone lights at home, children who have reached the age of chinuch should light, too. Nonetheless, the Mishna Berura (675:13) writes that a child cannot light on behalf of an adult.

The Beis Yosef (OC 671:7) gives three reasons for why we light the menora in shul. First, the guests who did not have a place to light their own menora would fulfil their obligation with the shul’s lighting (see Levush OC 671:8). Additionally, he quotes the Kol Bo (44) who writes that lighting in such a public manner where one shows people how to say the berachos correctly, publicizes the miracles (pirsumei nisa) which creates a kiddush Hashem. Lastly, the Rivash (111) explains that as we no longer light the menora outside our front doors, we ensure that we light in shuls where everyone can see the lights. The Mishna Berura (671:44) adds that even though lighting in shuls nowadays is only a minhag¸ nonetheless we still recite a beracha when lighting.

The Shibolei Haleket (185) and Chacham Zvi (88) note that as visitors no longer sleep over in the shul¸ this reason no longer applies. R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 6:65:1) writes that as we do not fulfil the mitzva by lighting in shul and it is the lights themselves, rather than the act of lighting that causes the pirsumei nisa, children should be able to light the menora.

Nonetheless, he concludes that it is not kavod hatzibbur for a child to light. Likewise, R’ Shraga Feivish Schneebalg (Shraga Hameir 2:16), R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 8:273:2) and R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:335) write that lighting the menora is a great honour which should not be given to a child.

In conclusion, one should not ask a child to light the menora in shul.