Lighting the menorah while in mourning

Hi,

Does a mourner light Chanukah candles?

An onein [one whose immediate relative has passed away, and has not been buried] is not obligated in lighting Chanukah candles. However, halachic authorities are concerned that people passing the onein's home may not know he is an onein, and they might think that he is flouting the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles. Further, lighting Chankah candles does fulfill our mission of publicizing the miracles of Chanukah. Therefore, an onein should make sure that someone lights in his home; there are conflicting views on whether he should respond Amen to their berachah. If no one else can light, then the onein should light, albeit without a berachah.

An avel sitting shivah does light Chanukah candles, and does recite all of the berachot, including Shehechiyanu. However, he should not light Chanukah candles in shul on the first night of Chanukah.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 341:1; Pri Megadim Orach Chaim 670:MZ 5; Mishneh Berurah 670:12, 671:44; Piskei Teshuvot 676:1)

חג אורים שמח,

Mordechai

Light and leave?

Hi,

May I light the menorah and leave my home immediately?

From the perspective of fire safety: Leaving lit candles in one's home, and particularly near window curtains, is dangerous. One who knows that he will need to leave his home should take special precautions, perhaps lighting anchored tea lights.

From the perspective of the mitzvah: One may leave the Chanukah candles, but this is not ideal, as seen in our emphasis on lighting in rooms where we live and function. Both in terms of seeing the light and thereby commemorating the miracles that the Chanukah candles publicize, and in terms of rejoicing in the mitzvah, one ought to remain in the room with the Chanukah candles for at least half an hour after lighting them, unless he is called away to perform a mitzvah.

(Rama Orach Chaim 677:3; Pri Chadash 677:1; Teshuvos v'Hanhagos 1:394; Yalkut Yosef Moadim: Achsanai b'Chanukah 1; Piskei Teshuvos 676:5)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Lighting at a Chanukah Party

Hi,

May I light the chanukiah at my family's Chanukah party?

One may not light at a Chanukah party located in another person's house. One who will return home after traffic outside his house has ceased should light before going to the party, after plag haminchah (3:45 PM in Thornhill at the start of Chanukah this year), assuming the chanukiah will remain lit until more than 30 minutes after the stars emerge.

If the above solution is not possible, one should  have someone light in his home at the proper time, or one should light after returning from the party, making sure that someone else is awake to see his chanukiah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 677:1; Mishneh Berurah 677:12, 679:2; Rivivot Ephraim 4:163:12, 16, 32)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Standing for Barchu

Hi,

The community stands for Barchu, but some suggest that people may sit down before the chazan responds "Baruch HaShem hamevorach l'olam va'ed."

(Ishei Yisrael 16:28 and footnote 85)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

What if I missed hearing Barchu?

Hi,

One who missed hearing the chazan say "Barchu", but who enters in time to hear the community respond, may respond with them. The only requirement is that 9 members of the minyan must have heard the chazan.

(Mishneh Berurah 57:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Responding to the chazan: How loud?

Hi,

One should not answer "Barchu", or any berachah [blessing], in a voice that is louder than that of the person who recited the berachah. However, one may do so if it is an attempt to energize others to respond.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 124:12; Mishneh Berurah 124:47)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

New topic: Barchu

Hi,

When the community recites "Barchu" during Shacharit (the morning service), the chazan first calls them to bless Gd, saying "Barchu et Ado-nai hamevorach," and then they bless G-d, saying, "Baruch Ado-nai hamevorach l'olam va'ed." The chazan then repeats the words they used in blessing G-d; the purpose is for him to include himself in the community's blessing, rather than stand apart.

(Mishneh Berurah 57:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai