Chanukah Archives - AskTheRav

How should one dispose of the Menorah wicks? And how about Shabbos candles?

One should make a fire and burn all the leftover oil and wicks used for the Menorah. (This does not include the oil that is still in the bottle)…

Can one pay Draidel on Shabbos using beans?

There are 3 issues that need to be addressed: Dreidel - The dreidel should not be played on Shabbos. According to some authorities, a dreidel is possibly considered a…

Chanukah Guide 5780/2019

English | Hebrew

How many inches high should the Menorah be from the floor?

The flames of the Menorah must be situated at least three Tefachim (approximately 10 inches) from the floor. The Menorah should not be positioned higher than ten Tefachim (approximately 31 inches).…

Should I relight my Menorah if any of the flames go out?

You should relight them, if any of them go out before 50 minutes. #2065

On Sunday night IYH we will be traveling home from out of town. We will be leaving approximately two hours after Shkiah. Do we light Menorah in the place we were visiting or when we arrive back at home, which will be after midnight?

It is better to light at home, even if after midnight, if some family members are awake. #2066

Can a teachers appreciation gift or Chanukah Gelt for teachers come from Maaser?

If the teachers are in the category that they may receive Tzedaka - as often is the case - then it may be taken from Maaser money. However, if it…

Someone who’s staying in a hospital on Chanukah, and they don’t allow fire to be lit there, can he light there even though he might have to put it out shortly thereafter?

Light without a Brachah. Of course we are not advising to go against hospital protocol, especially since there is a potential danger here C"V. You should coordinate with those in…

My wife is in the rehab for Chanukah and they only let them light candles in the Shul downstairs. Should she light in the Shul, or should I have her in mind and be Motzei her when I light at home?

She should be Yotzei from you, but she should watch someone in Shul lighting and answer Amen. #2007

Am I allowed to move the Menorah if I think it isn’t safe? If I am not allowed, do I have to relight it if I started moving it and then placed it back in its original place?

If the Menorah was moved to a different location in the same area, one is Yotzei B'dieved. Some permit it even L'chatchilla. After 50 minutes, one may certainly move…

Students at college are having difficulty lighting the Menorah in their dormitories due to fire regulations. May they light in the Chabad House with a Brachah?

One person may light in the Chabad House with a Brachah as Pirusmei Nisa, but this does not dispense him from his personal obligation to light the Menorah at home/…

Is it not ideal to light the Menorah using Pomace olive oil?

Correct. It is kosher, but not ideal. Question 2: What about refined olive oil? Is only extra virgin olive oil ideal? Answer 2: They are all kosher…

As we were doing Mivtzoim and giving out Menorahs someone gave me a $10 donation. We planned on using this $10 to buy Menorahs for the next time we go on Mivtzoim. The money fell out of my coat pocket a little while later. Do I have to pay $10 from my own money?

If the Tzedakah money had not been designated to a particular recipient, no one has a claim to it; thus the one that was holding the money doesn’t have the…

If for whatever reason the main rooms of the house, like the kitchen and dining room, don’t have a Mezuzah, would it be better to light the Menorah by a bedroom or front door that do have a Mezuzah?

You should light at the entrance of the main room, even if it has no Mezuzah. Sources: לא מצינו בשום דוכתא שיש להדר להדליק בפתח שי״ב מזוזה. ומוכח בכ״מ…

When it says that the Menorah is supposed be lit between 3 and 10 Tefachim from the ground, does this refer to the height of the stool that the Menorah stands on, or the lights of the Menorah?

The Chanukah Menorah should be placed on a surface that is higher than three Tefachim (approximately ten inches) off the ground, since lower than three Tefachim is Halachically considered as if it's on…

If I will be lighting Menorah late at night due to traveling, may they be קובע סעודה on the plane? I can appoint someone to remind me to light upon arrival at the destination.

If one is making a Chanukah party in the lobby of a senior independent living building, can we say the Brochos for the Menorah lighting? Answer:s 1. They may not…

I am having a large group of people for a Chanukah Seuda. Most likely those people will not light the Menorah when they come home after the meal. Can I set up a table and have everyone light the Menorah before the Seuda?

Another event where many families will join for a Seuda in a private home. Can the host light candles and be Motzai everyone? Once again these people may not light…

When is the best time to light the Menorah according to Minhag Chabad?

After Shkiah Ha’amitis, several minutes after sunset. Sources: ראה ספר המנהגים חב״ד במקומו. ובלוח כולל חב״ד: תיכף אחרי השקיעה. שקיעה האמתית - ראה סדר הכנסת שבת. וראה אצלנו…

If we do a public Menorah lighting in a bowling alley, or any other event, how long do the candles have to burn to in order to make a Bracha on the lighting? How many Jews need to be present in order to light with a Brachah?

Half hour. Ten Jews must be present when lighting in order to make a Brachah.

שמעתי שמועה שיש ענין להשתמש דוקא בשמן זית שמייצרים יהודים בשביל נרות חנוכה במיוחד. האם זה נכון?

לא נכון. אמנם, חשוב לדעת, ש מצוי בשוק שמן זית מזוייף שנמכר במחיר נמוך מאוד. השמן המזוייף הוא צהבהב יותר, פחות מריר ויותר מימי. שמן זית אמיתי אינו מבעבע או מקציף…