Light House

Prepared for print by Faigy Peritzman

I’m in seminary and plan on going to my sister’s house every night for Chanukah lighting. But the eim bayit said I must be in seminary for the actual lighting. Is this true halachically?

It is halachically true that you cannot fulfill your Chanukah lighting obligation at your sister’s home, even if you eat dinner at her home that night. This is because one can only light Chanukah candles in one’s own home, and since you live in the dormitory, that is your home. L’chatchilah, therefore, you should be present in the seminary for the actual Chanukah lighting. But if for some reason you were unable to attend the actual lighting at the seminary, you still have fulfilled your basic obligation, since it is not an absolute requirement for you to be present at the lighting, as long as the hadlakah took place in your home.

My husband works long hours, and even on Chanukah he gets home several hours after shkiah. Ideally, should I light the menorah myself with the children at the right time or wait for him?

If your husband is perfectly fine with such an arrangement, then this would be the ideal way to go. But your husband has the right to object, and if so, you should wait for his arrival and light together as a family, even if the lighting will take place well after the preferable zeman.

We live in a small basement apartment with no windows facing the street. Where should we light Chanukah candles?

Place the menorah on the right side (across from the mezuzah) of any of the doors of your apartment and light it there.

My son’s bar mitzvah is the second night of Chanukah, and we will be leaving to the hall very early. When and where should we light Chanukah candles?

This is a halachic quandary without a simple solution. Ideally, ask another person to be your shaliach and light the candles in your home on your behalf. If that is impractical (and the hall is too far for you to come back home and then return to the hall), then light when you return home after the bar mitzvah is over. Since there are other opinions, consult with your rav.