Commentary for Shabbat 42:8
ת"ר נר חנוכה מצוה להניחה על פתח ביתו מבחוץ אם היה דר בעלייה מניחה בחלון הסמוכה לרה"ר ובשעת הסכנה מניחה על שלחנו ודיו
and that of Beth Hillel is that it shall correspond to the days that are gone; but another maintains: Beth Shammai's reason is that it shall correspond to the bullocks of the Festival;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'The Festival', without a determinate, always refers to Tabernacles (Sukkoth). Thirteen bullocks were sacrificed on the first day, twelve on the second, and so on, one less each succeeding day; v, Num. XXIX, 12 seqq. ');"><sup>15</sup></span> whilst Beth Hillel's reason is that we promote in [matters of] sanctity but do not reduce.
Rashi on Shabbat
On the outside: [This is] in order to publicize the miracle. And it was not in the public domain, but rather in the courtyard; as their houses were open to a courtyard.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Tosafot on Shabbat
It is a commandment to place it at the entrance to one’s house on the outside: And it is speaking about when there is no courtyard, but is rather a house standing adjacent to the public domain. But if there is a courtyard in front of the house, the commandment is to place [it] at the entrance of the courtyard. For later on (Shabbat 23a), it says, "A courtyard that has two entrances requires two lamps." And we also say (Shabbat 23b), "A lamp that has two spouts counts for two people." This implies two houses; but if they placed [it] at the entrance of their houses, it would be to the right for this one and to the left for that one (whereas it should be to the left for both of them). But if they place [it] at the entrance to the courtyard, it comes out fine.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Rashi on Shabbat
And if he lived upstairs: Such that he does not have a place in his courtyard, to place it there...
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Tosafot on Shabbat
And in a time of danger: It appears to RI that this is from the time that the chabarei (Zoroastrian fire priests) came to Babylonia, as it said in the chapter [entitled] Kirah (Shabbat 45a), "What is [the ruling with regard] to moving a Channukah lamp from before the chabarei on Shabbat?" But perhaps you will say, "They would also take it from upon the table, like it said in Gittin (17a), 'Rabbah bar bar Chanah became ill. A chabar came and took the light in front of them." But it can be said (answered) that they are not so accustomed to search inside houses.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Rashi on Shabbat
He places it inside, in front of the window to the public domain.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Rashi on Shabbat
Of danger: Since the Persians had a law on their holiday, that they should only burn a lamp in their house of idolatry, as we say in Gittin (Chapter 2 - Gittin 17b).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy