What is [the reason of] Hanukkah? For our Rabbis taught: On the twenty-fifth of Kislew<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The ninth month of the Jewish year, corresponding to about December.
');"><sup>22</sup></span> [commence] the days of Hanukkah, which are eight on which a lamentation for the dead and fasting are forbidden.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is an extract of the Megillath Ta'anith, lit., 'the scroll of fasting'.
');"><sup>23</sup></span> For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils therein, and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they made search and found only one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the High Priest,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence untouched and undefiled.
');"><sup>24</sup></span> but which contained sufficient for one day's lighting only; yet a miracle was wrought therein and they lit [the lamp] therewith for eight days. The following year these [days] were appointed a Festival with [the recital of] Hallel<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Praise', Ps. CXIII-CXVIII, recited on all Festivals; v. Weiss, Dor, I, p. 108, n. 1.
');"><sup>25</sup></span> and thanksgiving.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This lighting took place in 165 B.C.E. Exactly three years before, on the same day, Antiochus Epiphanes had a pagan altar erected in the Temple, upon which sacrifices were offered (I Macc. I, 41-64). Apart from the Talmudic reason stated here, Judas Maccabeus chose 25th of Kislew as the anniversary of the Temple's defilement, and the dedication of the new altar was celebrated with lights for eight days, similarly to the Feast of Tabernacles, which lasted eight days and was celebrated by illuminations (I Macc. IV, 36; II Macc. X, 6; supra a, p. 90, n. 3). Actually the revolt was against the Syrians, of whom Antiochus Epiphanes was king, but the term 'Greeks' is used loosely, because the Seleucid Empire was part of the older Empire founded by Alexander the Great of Macedon, and because it was a reaction against the attempted Hellenization of Judea. The historic data are contained in the First Book of the Maccabees.
');"><sup>26</sup></span> We learnt elsewhere: If a spark which flies from the anvil goes forth and causes damage, he [the smith] is liable. If a camel laden with flax passes through a street, and the flax overflows into a shop, catches fire at the shopkeeper's lamp, and sets the building alight, the camel owner is liable; but if the shopkeeper placed the light outside, the shopkeeper is liable.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the loss of the flax.
');"><sup>27</sup></span> R. Judah said: In the case of a Hanukkah lamp he is exempt.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because, as stated above, it should be placed outside; the onus then lies upon the camel driver.
');"><sup>28</sup></span> Rabina said in Rab's name: This proves that the Hanukkah lamp should [in the first instance] be placed within ten.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Handbreadths from the ground.
');"><sup>29</sup></span> For should you think, above ten, let him say to him, 'You ought to have placed it higher than a camel and his rider.' 'Yet perhaps if he is put to too much trouble, he may refrain from the [observance of the] precept'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Possibly the lamp may be placed at the outset higher, yet the Rabbis did not wish to make the precept too burdensome. ');"><sup>30</sup></span> R. Kahana said, R. Nathan b. Minyomi expounded in R. Tanhum's name:
Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
On the 25th of Kislev (start) the eight days of Hanukkah, and they are prohibited for eulogizing and fasting, but are permitted for doing work. The women have made it a custom not to do work while the candles are burning. And there is [an opinion] that says that we may not be lenient for them.
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
How many lights should one kindle? On the first night, he kindles one [light]. From then on he continues to add one each night, until on the last night they are eight. And even if the household members are many, they should not kindle more. Rem"a: And some say that every one of the household members kindles (Maimonides) and such is the widespread custom. And they should take care to each place their lights in a unique place, so that it will be apparent how many lights they are kindling. (Abraham Kara of Prague)
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
How many lights should one kindle? On the first night, he kindles one [light]. From then on he continues to add one each night, until on the last night they are eight. And even if the household members are many, they should not kindle more. Rem"a: And some say that every one of the household members kindles (Maimonides) and such is the widespread custom. And they should take care to each place their lights in a unique place, so that it will be apparent how many lights they are kindling. (Abraham Kara of Prague)
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
One should place the Hanukkah light at the entrance which adjoins the public domain, on the outside. If the house opens to the public domain, he should place it at its entrance. If there is a courtyard in front of the house, he should place it at the entrance of the courtyard. If he lives in the upper floor, having no entrance leading to the public domain, he should place it at a window that adjoins the public domain. In a time of danger, when one is not allowed to perform mitzvot, it is enough that he place it on his table. He needs another light to use for its illumination. And if there is a bonfire, he needs no other light. But if he is a dignified person, whose way is not to use the illumination of a bonfire, he needs another light.
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
One should place the Hanukkah light at the entrance which adjoins the public domain, on the outside. If the house opens to the public domain, he should place it at its entrance. If there is a courtyard in front of the house, he should place it at the entrance of the courtyard. If he lives in the upper floor, having no entrance leading to the public domain, he should place it at a window that adjoins the public domain. In a time of danger, when one is not allowed to perform mitzvot, it is enough that he place it on his table. He needs another light to use for its illumination. And if there is a bonfire, he needs no other light. But if he is a dignified person, whose way is not to use the illumination of a bonfire, he needs another light.
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
One should place [the Hanukkah light] above three handsbreadths [from the ground]. It is a mitzvah to place it beneath ten handsbreadths. But if he placed it above ten handsbreadths, he has fulfilled his obligation. However, if he placed it above twenty cubits, he has not fulfilled his obligation. Rem"a: And even if he took it as it is, lit, and placed it below twenty cubits, he has not fulfilled his obligation, because the kindling accomplishes the mitzvah. (Beit Yosef quoting Tosafot)
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
Chanukah candles are not lit before sunset, but rather with the end of sunset, neither later nor before. And there are those who say that if one is busy, it is permissible to light from Plag Hamincha and onward, as long one puts enough oil [so that the lamp will remain lit] until people stop passing through the marketplace.
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
If one did not light with sunset, either due to forgetfulness or on purpose, s/he should go ahead and light until people stop passing through the marketplace, which is approximately half an hour, because then the people are passing and coming home and thus the miracle is publicized. Therefore one must place enough oil for that time, and if one put more oil in, s/he may extinguish the candle after that time has passed, and may use the light after that time. [Re"ma: There are those who say that in this time, when people light indoors, there is no need to be careful to light before people stop passing through the marketplace (these are his own words, and the words of the Tur, quoting Tosafot), and regardless, it is good to be careful even now.] And this is the ideal case. But it this time has passed and s/he has not lit, go ahead an light all night, and if the entire night has passed and s/he has not lit, there is no making up for it later. [Re"ma: And on other nights, one should light like all other people, even though s/he did not light at first. (He found this written in the name of the Maha"ril and also shared it as his own opinion.)]
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
Oils and Wicks That Are Fit for Use on Hanukkah, 4 Seifim: 1. All oils and wicks are fit for use for the Hanukkah light, even if the oils are not drawn after the wick, and the illumination is not held well by those wicks. RAMA: However, olive oil is a choice mitzvah, (Mordechai, Kol Bo and Mahari"l) and if olive oil is not available it is a mitzvah with oils whose illumination is pure and clean, and we have the custom in these countries to kindle with wax candles since their illumination is clear like oil. And even on the night of the Sabbath that is in the middle of the days Hanukkah it is permissible to kindle the Hanukkah light with the oils and wicks with which it is prohibited to kindle the Sabbath candles... [this is] if one only puts in the light enough [oil] for the measure of its mitzvah. (Responsa of Rashb"ah Section 170).since it is prohibited to utilize the Hanukkah light whether on the Sabbath or on a weekday, even to check [the authenticity of] coins or to count them by its illumination; even a holy use is prohibited, such as studying [Torah] by its illumination. And there is [an opinion] that permits a holy use. We have the custom to kindle an additional light, in order that if one uses its illumination, it would be the additional light, which was kindled last, and it should be placed at a small distance from the other obligatory lights. In these countries, we do not have the custom to add, one only places by them the auxiliary light with which he kindles the lights, and this is more preferable. And it should be made longer than the other lights, so that if he comes to use [the illumination], he will use that light. (Mordechai) If a Hanukkah light, which is prohibited for pleasure, becomes mixed with other lights, even one in a thousand, it is not nullified, for it is a thing that can be counted. (Terumat Hadeshen Section 103) Rather, one should kindle from the mixture enough [lights] that there is definitely a permissible light lit with the prohibited light, and then it would be permitted to use [their illumination]. ([Ram"a's] own opinion)
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
2. The kindling accomplishes the commandment; therefore if one extinguished it before its [minimum] time had passed, he is not bound to [rekindle] it. Even if he extinguished it on the Eve of Sabbath before accepting the Sabbath, when it is still daytime, he is not bound to [rekindle] it. Similarly, if after he kindled it he went to adjust it and unintentionally extinguished it, he is not bound to [rekindle] it. If he wants to be stringent on himself and go back and kindle it, he should not recite the benediction over it. (Responsa of Rashb"ah Section 539 and the R"an)
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Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
Oils and Wicks That Are Fit for Use on Hanukkah, 4 Seifim: 1. All oils and wicks are fit for use for the Hanukkah light, even if the oils are not drawn after the wick, and the illumination is not held well by those wicks. RAMA: However, olive oil is a choice mitzvah, (Mordechai, Kol Bo and Mahari"l) and if olive oil is not available it is a mitzvah with oils whose illumination is pure and clean, and we have the custom in these countries to kindle with wax candles since their illumination is clear like oil. And even on the night of the Sabbath that is in the middle of the days Hanukkah it is permissible to kindle the Hanukkah light with the oils and wicks with which it is prohibited to kindle the Sabbath candles... [this is] if one only puts in the light enough [oil] for the measure of its mitzvah. (Responsa of Rashb"ah Section 170).since it is prohibited to utilize the Hanukkah light whether on the Sabbath or on a weekday, even to check [the authenticity of] coins or to count them by its illumination; even a holy use is prohibited, such as studying [Torah] by its illumination. And there is [an opinion] that permits a holy use. We have the custom to kindle an additional light, in order that if one uses its illumination, it would be the additional light, which was kindled last, and it should be placed at a small distance from the other obligatory lights. In these countries, we do not have the custom to add, one only places by them the auxiliary light with which he kindles the lights, and this is more preferable. And it should be made longer than the other lights, so that if he comes to use [the illumination], he will use that light. (Mordechai) If a Hanukkah light, which is prohibited for pleasure, becomes mixed with other lights, even one in a thousand, it is not nullified, for it is a thing that can be counted. (Terumat Hadeshen Section 103) Rather, one should kindle from the mixture enough [lights] that there is definitely a permissible light lit with the prohibited light, and then it would be permitted to use [their illumination]. ([Ram"a's] own opinion)
