A Flawed Cup

Hi,

For the Havdalah cup (as well as for any other cup used with a mitzvah, such as at kiddush or at a wedding), one may not use a cup if someone else already drank therefrom. Such a cup is said to be pagum, flawed.

One may re-complete a flawed cup by adding beverage to it, and then it may be used.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 182, 271:10-11, 296:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Havdalah Cup

Hi,

Havdalah, like Kiddush, is recited with a cup. However, unlike Kiddush, there is great latitude in terms of which beverage one may use.

In addition to wine and grape juice, one may use any beverage which is known as an "important" beverage in that region. However, wine is the ideal beverage, or grape juice for those who cannot drink wine.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 296:1-2; Mishneh Berurah 296:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Havdalah in prayer

Hi,

We have said that there is a bible-based obligation to sanctify Shabbat with a verbal declaration, Havdalah, at its end.

We do this as part of the evening "Maariv" service which ends Shabbat, and after reciting that prayer we may perform melachah (tasks which are prohibited on Shabbat). However, per yesterday's email, eating is still prohibited until the full Havdalah is performed.

One who has not recited Maariv may recite the formula, "Baruch HaMavdil bein kodesh l'chol" - "Blessed is the One who distinguishes between the sacred and the mundane" - in place of Havdalah in Maariv. This does not replace the full Havdalah, though.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 294:1, 299:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eating before Havdalah

Hi,

We have explained that the mitzvah of Havdalah, sanctifying Shabbat by marking its close, has biblical roots.

This mitzvah is so important that once the time for Havdalah nears, meaning once sunset arrives, one may not begin a meal or snack, even though the actual time for Havdalah will not be until the stars are visible. Note, though, that one may continue a meal if he began eating before sunset.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 299:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

New topic: Havdalah

Hi,

Today we begin a new topic: Havdalah.

The Torah instructs us to "Remember the day of Shabbat, to sanctify it." The word for "remember," זכור, can also mean "Mention." Based on this, we are instructed to mention Shabbat at its beginning and end - at the beginning with Kiddush, and at the close with Havdalah.

(Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Shabbat 29:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leftover oil and wax in the menorah

Hi,

The oil or wax which remains in candle-holders at the end of Chanukah should not be used for any other purpose. It should be disposed of respectfully, such as by burning it.

Note, though, that if you put in more fuel than was needed for the flame to last for the requisite time, and you had always planned to use the leftover fuel for other purposes, then you may indeed use that remaining fuel for other purposes.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 677:4; Mishneh Berurah 677:18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rosh Chodesh and Chanukah

Hi,

This coming Sunday will be the second day of Rosh Chodesh for the lunar month of Tevet, and it will also be Chanukah. What will we read from the Torah?

To satisfy the needs of both Rosh Chodesh and Chanukah, we will first take care of the more common holiday, Rosh Chodesh, by reading 3 portions from the Rosh Chodesh reading. We will then read a fourth reading for Chanukah, from a second Torah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 684:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Haftorah for Shabbat/Rosh Chodesh/Chanukah

Hi,

Yesterday we explained the system of Torah readings for this Shabbat, which is also Rosh Chodesh (the first day of the lunar month) and Chanukah; what do we do for the Haftorah, do we read the regular Shabbat reading, the Chanukah reading, or the Rosh Chodesh reading?

We read the Haftorah for Chanukah, for two reasons:

1. The last Torah portion we read before the Haftorah is the Chanukah reading, and we generally link the themes of the end of the Torah portion and the Haftorah;

2. Publicizing the miracle of Chanukah trumps even the biblical celebration of Rosh Chodesh. (We do not follow the formula of honoring the mitzvah which occurs more frequently, because that formula applies only as a rule of precedence, not a rule of replacement.)

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 684:3; Mishneh Berurah 684:11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shabbat, Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

This year, Shabbat of Chanukah will also be Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the month of Tevet. Therefore we need to read from three Torah scrolls: A portion for Shabbat, a portion for Chanukah, and a portion for Rosh Chodesh.

We follow a basic law of precedence: The event which occurs more frequently is honored first. Therefore we read six aliyot first from the regular Torah reading, then one aliyah from the Rosh Chodesh reading, and then a "maftir" aliyah from the Chanukah reading.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 684:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Torah reading for Chanukah

Hi,

Chanukah does not have a natural Torah reading, because the historical events of Chanukah occurred after the Torah was concluded.

Instead, the special Torah reading for Chanukah is the section in Bamidbar [Numbers] that describes the dedication of the portable Mishkan [Temple] with which the Jews traveled from Egypt to Israel.

This is an appropriate reading because Chanukah celebrates rededication of the Temple. Also, we are taught that construction of the original Mishkan was completed at the end of the month of Kislev, on the days that later became Chanukah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 684:1; Mishneh Berurah 684:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Hallel for Chanukah

Hi,

Throughout Chanukah we add the "Hallel" prayer to Shacharit (the morning service). Hallel is a prayer of praise, thanking Gd for His miracles on our behalf; it is found on page 632 of the standard Artscroll siddur (prayer book).

Although the miracle of Chanukah was only a single miracle, each day is recognized as a miracle unto itself, and so we say Hallel anew each day.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 683:1; Mishneh Berurah 683:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Al haNisim

Hi,

All through Chanukah we traditionally include a special paragraph, 'Al haNisim,' thanking Gd for His miracles, in the Amidah and in the Birkat haMazon (blessing after meals).

One does not repeat the Amidah or the Birkat haMazon if he accidentally omits the 'Al haNisim' paragraph.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 682:1; Mishneh Berurah 682:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

How a guest lights the menorah

Hi,

One who is an overnight guest in someone else's home has two options:

1. Pay for some of the fuel for the host's Menorah, or

2. Light his own Menorah there.

The latter option is usually considered more ideal.

If the guest stays in a separate wing of the home, with its own entrance to the street, then the guest must light his own Menorah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 677:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"HaNerot Halalu"

Hi,

The order of lighting the Menorah is: One first recites all of the blessings for lighting [the three of the first night, or the two of the other nights], then one lights the first candle, and then one recites "HaNerot Hallalu," a paragraph describing the meaning of the candles, while lighting the other candles.

One who cannot light and recite simultaneously may finish lighting all the candles and then recite HaNerot Hallalu.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 676:1, 4; Mishneh Berurah 676:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The blessings on lighting the menorah

Hi,

On every night of Chanukah after the first night, one recites two blessings before lighting the first candle on the Menorah. On the first night one recites three blessings, adding the "Shehechiyanu" blessing to the other two. These blessings may be found in the Artscroll Prayerbook on page 782.

The first blessing thanks Gd for the Mitzvah of lighting candles, and the second commemorates the miracles He performed for us on Chanukah. Therefore, one who will not light Chanukah candles still recites the second blessing when he first sees a lit Menorah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 676:1,3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Cleaning the Menorah

Hi,

One should make sure to clean the Menorah each day of Chanukah so that it looks beautiful when it is lit that night. This doesn't necessarily mean that all the detritus of the previous night must be removed, but the Menorah should not look dirty.

(based on Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 673:3; Mishneh Berurah 673:29)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fuel for the Menorah

Hi,

One may use any oil or wax for the Menorah, but the ideal is olive oil because the original Menorah lit on Chanukah in the Beit haMikdash [Temple] used olive oil.

If one cannot get olive oil, other oils are most preferable (again because of the resemblance to the original miracle). If one cannot use oil, then wax candles are ideal.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 673:1; Mishneh Berurah 673:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Earliest time to light the Menorah

Hi,

We have talked about the latest time to light the Menorah, but not the earliest. One should light the Menorah about 15 minutes before the stars emerge, no earlier.

There are two exceptions to this rule:
1) One who will not be able to light later may light at sunset, and
2) As we have noted, on Friday we light before lighting Shabbat candles, about 20 minutes before sunset.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 672:1; Mishneh Berurah 672:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lighting the Menorah after Shabbat

Hi,

On Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) we light the Menorah at home only after we make Havdalah.

In the synagogue we light the Menorah before Havdalah. We will already have recited a form of Havdalah in the Maariv prayer, and we want to make sure to light the Menorah before people leave.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 679)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Drafting the Menorah

Hi,

Yesterday we learned about the order of Chanukah and Shabbat candles.

On Shabbat one may not perform an action which will definitely result in a violation of Shabbat, even if that result is unintended. Therefore, one may not open a door opposite a flame if the resulting draft is guaranteed to increase or diminish the flame.

Therefore: When lighting the Menorah on Friday, make sure that the Menorah will not be directly exposed to open doors as you enter or leave the room on Shabbat.

[Note: The same will apply, every week, for Shabbat candles!]

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 680:1; Mishneh Berurah 680:2, 4),

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lighting the menorah on Friday night

Hi,

On Friday night we light the Menorah before we light Shabbat candles, since once we have lit Shabbat candles we have accepted Shabbat and we cannot light the Menorah.

We make sure that the candles will last until at least thirty minutes into true night (after the stars have emerged) - so that we need candles that will last at least 93 minutes (18 minutes between candle lighting and sunset, 45 minutes between sunset and when the stars emerge, and then another 30 minutes). People tend to use thick Shabbat candles, which last longer than the usual Chanukah candles.

This is a special concern in years when the last night of Chanukah is a Friday night, so that we light eight candles and need them to last for a long time. With that many candles so close together, the candles tend to melt down very quickly. If one can use oil, that helps. Alternatively, tea lights work well.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 679)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Electric Menorah?

Hi,

I am frequently asked, "May one use an electric Menorah?" After all, many authorities consider electricity a form of fire as far as Shabbat is concerned (some authorities only forbid Shabbat use of electricity because of other issues, not associated with fire); could we consider an electric bulb like a Chanukah candle?

The consensus of many authorities is that an electric Menorah does not fulfill the Mitzvah; I have seen the following reasons:

1. At the time we light the Menorah, there must be enough fuel present for the flame to last until half an hour after the stars emerge. Otherwise, one doesn't fulfill the Mitzvah, because the act of kindling isn't an act sufficient to light that long. Electricity doesn't work that way - it is continuously generated. (Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, in Meorei Esh)

2. Flipping a switch, or pressing a button, may be considered an act of indirect lighting (Grama) when one completes the circuit. We require direct kindling, as takes place when one touches a flame to a wick. (Har Tzvi Orach Chaim 143)

3. The whole point is to commemorate the Temple Menorah, which employed fuel and wick. (Dvar Halachah 36)

4. Each flame is supposed to be a single flame, not a Medurah, a "bonfire," since the Temple Menorah had a single flame for each wick. A filament, which arcs horizontally, is called a Medurah. (Tzitz Eliezer I:20:12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Candle order

Hi,

On the first night we light the candle which is farthest to our right as we face the Menorah.

On the ensuing nights we add candles to the immediate left of that candle and begin lighting with the leftmost candle, i.e. the newest one, and move from there rightward.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 676:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Placement of the shamash

Hi,

The other day we noted that keeping a "shamash" lit is meant to provide an extra light with the Menorah, so that one doesn't use the sacred light of the Menorah for personal benefit.

We have also noted that one's Menorah should be clearly displayed, so that the onlooker can see how many lights are lit and know what night of Chanukah is being celebrated.

Therefore: If one's Menorah places the shamash close to the other lights, and without any real height demarcation between the shamash and the other lights, then one should be careful not to use that location for the shamash. Rather, one should light an extra candle in the room, or just keep an electric light on in the room, to prevent confusion about how many "official" lights are in the Menorah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 671:5; Mishneh Berurah 671:12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Prayer for Rain

Hi,

Beginning this Thursday night (at Maariv), we change the 9th blessing of the Amidah (Blessing of the Seasons), which begins "ברך עלינו" "Bless on our behalf." We insert the request, "ותן טל ומטר" "Give us rain and dew, for a blessing," and we use this phrase until Pesach.

The request for rain is considered so integral to the Amidah that one who accidentally omits it, and finishes the Amidah, is supposed to repeat the whole Amidah.

One who catches the error before reciting the final 9 words of the blessing may simply insert that request for rain wherever she is in the blessing, and continue.

One who catches the error before concluding the 16th blessing, "Shma Koleinu," "Hear our voice," may insert it into that blessing - before the words "Ki Atah Shomeia," "For You hear the prayer."

One who catches the error after that, but before concluding the Amidah by stepping out of the Amidah stance, goes back to the 9th blessing, says it again, and repeats the Amidah from that point to the end.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Location of the menorah in the synagogue

Hi,

The Menorah is lit in the synagogue each evening, between Minchah (afternoon prayers) and Maariv (evening prayers), to publicize the miracles of Chanukah. It should be placed along the south wall of the synagogue, parallel to the Menorah of the Beit haMikdash [Temple] which was also placed along the south wall.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 671:7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Placement of the Menorah

Hi,

Ideally, the menorah should be placed outside the house, where everyone will be able to see it. However, one who cannot do so due to legitimate fear of violence or theft may place it inside - ideally where it will be visible from the street, but at least where other household members will see it.

Even if the Menorah is lit inside the house, one of the Menorot to be lit should be positioned near the front door, in order to surround an entering person with the mitzvot of Mezuzah and Menorah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 671:5, 7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai