Question: Last year on erev Shabbos Chanuka, we did not have a minyan in time to light the menora before Shabbos. In such a scenario does one still recite the berachos when lighting or not?
Answer: The Shulchan
Aruch (OC 671:7) writes that we light the menora in shul in order
to publicise the miracle of Chanuka (pirsumei nisa).
R’ Yaakov Emden (Mor Uketzia 671) writes that one always needs ten
people for pirsumei nisa.
Therefore, one should only recite a beracha when lighting the menora
in shul if there is a minyan present. Doing so without a minyan
could be a beracha levatala (a beracha in vain).
The
Magen Avraham (671:10) and Chayei Adam (2:154:17) write that one should not
wait for a minyan to light before Shabbos. One can recite the berachos
if one knows that there will be a minyan present later while the menora
is alight. The Shaarei Teshuva (671:9) writes that this applies to any weekday,
too. The Mishna Berura (671:47; Biur Halacha 671:7; Shaar
Hatzion 671:54) explains that ideally one should wait until there is a minyan
present to light, though one may light and recite the berachos even
before the minyan has arrived as the main mitzva is for people to
see the lights (see Minchas Yitzchak 6:65:1).
However, many of the Sefardi poskim disagree. The Chida (Machzik Beracha OC 671:7), Kaf Hachaim
(OC 671:72), R’ Benzion Abba Shaul (Or Letzion 4:42:15)
and R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 10:55:37) write
that one cannot recite the berachos without a minyan present at
the time of lighting (see Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:398).
In conclusion, one should ideally wait for a minyan to
light the menora in shul. If it is getting late, especially
before Shabbos, Ashkenazim will light and recite the berachos if
they believe that there will be a minyan. Sefardim will light
without reciting the berachos.
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