Question:
What is the correct amount of candles that should be lit for the chanuka candles?
Answer:
The minimum requirement of Chanukah candles is that each household should have one candle lit every night. The next best method (Mehadrin) to fulfill this mitzvah is by lighting one candle for every person in the house every night. The best (Mehadrin Min HaMehadrin) way to fulfill this mitzvah is: according to Sephardim, for one person per house to light one candle on the first night and to add another candle each night and according to Ashkenazim, for every person to light for themselves one candle on the first night and to add another candle each night.
If one missed lighting one day it can’t be made up and the next night one should light the number everyone else is lighting.
If one lit two candles on the first night, he fulfills his obligation and doesn’t have to relight the right number of candles.
• The Braitta on Gemora Shabbos 21b states that the minimum requirement of Chanukah candles is that each household should have one candle lit every night. The next best method (Mehadrin) to fulfill this mitzvah is by lighting one candle for every person in the house every night. The best (Mehadrin Min HaMehadrin) way to fulfill this mitzvah is to increase the number of candles light each night, one on the first night, two on the second, and so on. However, regarding the last method there is a dispute to it’s precise explanation.
• The Rambam (Chanukah 4:1-2) rules that each night one should add one candle per person per night, meaning that for a family of 10, the first night there would 10 candles and 20 the second night. [He adds that the Minhag of Spain is to only light add one candle per household increasing according to the number of the night.] This is also the opinion of the Rabbenu Yehonatan in name of Ran (Shabbos 21b), Piskei Riaz (Shabbos 2, Chanukah 5), and Rif explained by Buir HaGra 671:4.
• However, Tosfos (Shabbos 21b s.v. VeHaMehadrin) in name of the Ri writes that one should only have one increasing per household so that it’s recognizable what night of the Chanukah it is. So writes Mordechai (Shabbos 270) in name of the Ri, Meiri (Shabbos 21b) that such is the Minhag, Ran (Shabbos 21b) in name of Raah, Tur(671). Ritva (Shabbos 21b) brings both explanations of the Gemora. S”A 671:2 holds like Tosfos and Rama 671:2 holds like Rambam.
• The custom of Sephardim, as recorded in S”A 671:2 is to have one chanukia per household and increase the number of candles according to the day.
• Interesting point: The Taz 671:1 writes that here is a case where Ashkenazim uncharacteristically follow the Rambam and Sephardim follow Tosfos. Chemed Moshe 671:4 argues that the Rambam concludes so is the Minhag not like the ruling, meaning it’s an old practice even before his time. The Torat HaMoadim (Chanukah pg 18) brings the Rama in Darkei Moshe 671:1 who says the Ashkenazi practice goes even according to Tosfos since the candles are indoors and separate. Sdei Chemed (Chanukah 9:4) argues that the Ashkenazic practice for each member of the household to light isn’t like the Rambam who says that one person lights for everyone according to the number of people. For this reason many challenge the Rama who quotes his ruling in name of the Rambam including Maamar Mordechai 671:4, Bet Halevi on Torah (Chanukah pg 69). Yet, the Sh”t Maharil 145, Sh”t Trumat Hadeshen 101, and Sh”t Mahari Mebrona 50 hold like the explanation held by the Rama and could be sources for his opinion. Also, the Alfasi Zuta (Shabbos 2 beginning) says that the Rama is following the idea of the Rambam to light according to the number of household members but in order to satisfy Tosfos’s issue of being recognizable, every person lights instead of one person lighting. |