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Deriving Benefit from the Chanuka Lights

Dedicated in loving memory of Abraham Gontownik z"l  on the occasion of his nineteenth Yahrzeit, and in honor and in celebration of both the birth of  Jacob Abraham to Daniela and Zev, and the wedding of Ezra to Lilly Katz. The Gontownik Family
30.11.2018
 
The Talmud (Shabbat 21a-b) teaches:
 
R. Huna said: With regard to the wicks and oils about which the Sages said, “One must not light therewith on Shabbat,” one may not light therewith on Chanuka, neither on Shabbat nor on weekdays. Rabba said, “What is R. Huna's reason? He holds that if it [the Chanuka lamp] goes out, one must attend thereto, and one may make use of its light…” R. Zera said in R. Mattena's name — others state, R. Zera said in Rav's name: Regarding the wicks and oils about which the Sages said, “One must not light therewith on Shabbat,” one may light therewith on Chanuka, both on weekdays and on Shabbat. R. Yirmiyahu said, “What is Rav's reason? He holds, that if it goes out, it does not require attention, and one may not make use of its light.”
 
The Talmud teaches that wicks and oils which do not provide a steady flame may not be used for lighting the Shabbat lights, given the concern that one might adjust the flame, in violation of Shabbat. Regarding the Chanuka candles, the Talmud cites different opinions as to whether they may be lit with these types of oils and wicks.  The Talmud hinges this debate upon the question of whether one may derive benefit from the Chanuka lights. R. Huna and R. Chisda, according to the Gemara, permit one to derive benefit from the Chanuka lights, and therefore these inferior wicks and oils may not be used on Shabbat, as one might adjust the faltering flame. However, Rav maintains that one may not benefit from the flame, and therefore these wicks and oils may be used on Shabbat of Chanuka. The Gemara concludes that Halakha follows Rav’s position.
 
The Rishonim debate the question of why Rav prohibits deriving benefit from the Chanuka lights. Rashi (21a s.v. ve-assur) and the Rosh (2:6) explain that if one makes use of the lights it may not be noticeable that he lit them for the purpose of the mitzva. The Ba'al Ha-Ma'or (R. Zerachya Ha-Levi Gerondi, 1125-1186), in his comments to the Rif (9a), as well as the Ran (ibid.) and Rashba (Shabbat 21b), explain that the Rabbis modeled the mitzva of hadlakat neirot after the menorah of the Temple, through which the original miracle occurred.  Therefore, just as nobody derives personal benefit from the light of the menorah, which stands in the inner sanctuary of the Mikdash, similarly, one should not derive benefit from the light of the neirot Chanuka.
 
These Rishonim seem to argue as to whether the prohibition is rooted in the need to maximize pirsumei nisa, by not confusing lighting for one's personal needs with lighting for the sake of a mitzva, or in the inherent sanctity extended to the Chanuka lights, similar to the lights of the menorah in the Beit Ha-mikdash.
 
This debate may impact upon our understanding of the continuation of the Gemara:
 
R. Yehuda said in R. Assi's name:  One must not count money by the Chanuka light. When I stated this before Shmuel, he said to me, “Has then the lamp sanctity?”  R. Yosef demurred: “Does blood possess sanctity? For it was taught: He shall pour out [the blood thereof], and cover it [with dust]:  wherewith he pours out, he must cover, i.e., he must not cover it with his foot, so that precepts may not appear contemptible to him. So here, too, it is that precepts may not appear contemptible to him…"
 
What is the connection between Rav's statement, that one may not derive benefit from the Chanuka lights, and R. Assi's remark that one should not count money by the Chanuka light due to the concern of "bizuy mitzva" (showing contempt for the mitzvot)?
 
The Ba'al Ha-Ma'or suggests that Rav and R. Assi debate the reason and scope of this prohibition against deriving benefit from the light. Rav bases this halakha upon the absolute prohibition to benefit from the holy light of the menorah, and thus prohibits ALL benefit from the Chanuka lights. R. Assi, by contrast, who relates this prohibition to the more universal concern of "bizuy mitzva," only prohibits mundane uses of the neirot Chanuka, such as counting money. Therefore, one may, according to R. Assi, use the light of the neirot Chanuka for sacred purposes, as using the Chanuka lights for such purposes is not degrading to the mitzva. Indeed, the Tur (673) cites the Ittur as permitting using the Chanuka lights for a “sacred purpose,” and the Shibolei Ha-leket (185) likewise allows learning Torah by the light of the ner Chanuka.
 
Others explain that to the contrary, R. Assi is more stringent than Rav.  The Rosh (2:6), for example, claims that Rav, as we explained above, prohibits benefitting from the Chanuka lights in order that one’s lighting should be clearly perceived as being for the sake of the mitzva. Therefore, Rav only prohibited “permanent” uses of the Chanuka lights.  R. Assi, however, adds that even a temporary use of the light, which may not create a misimpression regarding the person's intentions, still degrades the mitzva, and violates the universal principle of "bizuy mitzva."
 
Similarly, the Ramban (Milchamot Hashem, 9a) asserts that the Rif rules in accordance with both Rav and R. Assi. He explains that R. Assi forbids even the minor benefit of counting money by the light of the neirot, which Rav would seemingly permit.
 
The Shulchan Arukh (673:1) rules:
 
It is prohibited to use the Chanuka light, both on Shabbat and on a weekday; even to examine coins or to count them by their light is prohibited; even a sacred use, such as to learn by its light, is prohibited. Some permit a sacred use.
 
The Magen Avraham (2) and Taz (3) testify that it was customary to refrain from using the Chanuka lights for any benefit.
 
Interestingly, the Ritva (21b s.v. amar) records that his teacher prohibited even speaking with one's friend by the light of the neirot Chanuka.  The Acharonim (Arukh Ha-shulchan 7, Mishna Berura 11) apparently disagree with this stringent position, ruling that one may sit in a room lit by the Chanuka lights, as this type of indirect benefit is not prohibited.
 
May one derive benefit from the light after the candles have burned for the minimum required duration?
 
The Shulchan Arukh (672:2) rules in accordance with those (including Rif 9a and Rambam) who permit one to benefit from the neirot Chanuka after the passage of the minimum required time (a half-hour). The Mishna Berura (8), however, cites the Maharshal as forbidding benefiting from the light while the candles are still lit, even after a half-hour has passed, as onlookers might suspect him of benefiting from the neirot Chanuka used to fulfill the mitzva.
 
The "Shamash"
 
The Talmud (Shabbat 21b) teaches:
 
The Rabbis taught: The Chanuka candle – the mitzva is to place it at the entrance of one's home, outside. If one lives in a loft, he places it in the window adjacent to the public domain. During times of danger, one places it on his table, and this suffices.
Rava said: One requires another candle to use its light. If there is a fire, he does not need [the extra candle]; if he is a prominent person, then even though there is a fire, he needs another candle.
 
The Gemara requires another light, in addition to those used to fulfill the mehadrin min ha-mehadrin requirement to add a candle each night, despite the confusion it might cause. Why does the Gemara juxtapose the requirement to light "another candle" to the different places in which one may light neirot Chanuka? And what is the reason for this extra light?
 
Rashi (s.v. ner and ve-i ika), the Ba'al Ha-Maor (9a) and the Meiri (21b) explain that one who lights on the table in his home due to "danger" must light an additional light in order to clarify that the neirot Chanuka were lit for the purpose of the mitzva, and not merely to provide light.  In other words, regardless of whether one rules in accordance with R. Huna or Rav regarding benefiting from the Chanuka lights, one who lights inside one's home must light an additional light in order to avoid misconceptions.
 
The Ritva (21b) and Rambam (4:8), however, explain that one must light an additional candle due to the prohibition to benefit from the Chanuka lights. Indeed, in times when the neirot Chanuka are the only lights in the house, one should provide another light, a shamash, from which one may derive benefit. If, however, there is another fire ('madura') in the room, one need not light a shamash,
 
While the halakha itself is clear, this reading gives rise to the question of why the Gemara introduced this requirement in the context of the case of one who lights inside the home.
 
The Ran (9b) addresses this question and offers an intriguing explanation:
 
It appears to me that although Rava agrees that one may not make use of its light, and thus one obviously needs another candle, this is what he means here: Even though at times of danger he places it on his table and then has no choice but to use its light, he nevertheless needs another candle to make a clear indication of the matter.
 
The Ran explained that since one who places his Chanuka lights on his table will most certainly benefit from their light, he must light an additional, non-mitzva candle.
 
What if one lit in a place where he will not likely make use of the light? Must he still light the shamash? The Meiri writes the following in the name of "miktzat rabbanim" ("a few rabbis"):
 
Nevertheless, it appears to me in light of the sugya that they required another candle only when one places it on his table. But if he places it near his entrance, he does not need another candle, even though it stands there for him, since he will not come to use specifically its light for some purpose. Indeed, I have seen a few rabbis who had the practice of standing there and speaking to their colleagues without another candle.
 
However, he concludes:
 
But in practice I customarily light another candle [that is] not for the sake of the mitzva, and the custom of our forefathers is in our hands…
 
The Shulchan Arukh mentions the requirement to light an additional candle in two contexts:
 
1) O.C. 671:5:
 
The Chanuka candle is placed at the entrance near the public domain, outside… In times of danger… one places it on his table, and this suffices.
One must have an additional candle to make use of its light. If there is a fire, one does not need a different candle. If he is a prominent person, who does not customarily use the light of a fire, he requires a different candle.
 
2) O.C. 673:1:
 
It is forbidden to make use of the Chanuka candles… It is forbidden even to check or count money by their light… The custom is to light an additional candle so that if he makes use of its light, it will have been from the additional light, which was lit last. One places it somewhat distant from the other candles used for the mitzva.
 
The Shulchan Arukh apparently rules in accordance with both interpretations, requiring an additional candle to help distinguish between the neirot Chanuka and other lights, and to prevent one from benefitting directly from the Chanuka lights. Interestingly, the Rema adds:
 
In these countries, the practice is not to add [another candle], but rather to place next to them the shamash from which one lights the candles, and this is preferable.
 
According the Rema, it is preferable not to add a candle, but rather to place the light used to kindle the neirot Chanuka, known as the shamash, next to the chanukiya. Apparently, the candle that one used to kindle the others will not come to be confused with one of the mandatory Chanuka lights.
 
The Taz (671:4) and Magen Avraham (671:5) conclude that it is customary to light a shamash even if one lights in a place where he does not ordinarily light candles.
 
Lighting One Candle from Another
 
            It occasionally happens that one of the Chanuka lights is extinguished, and one wishes to rekindle it.  May he light it from the adjacent candle, which is still burning, or must he light it from an outside source?
 
The Gemara (22a-b) teaches: "Rav said: One must not light from lamp to lamp; but Shmuel maintained: One may light from lamp to lamp…" The Gemara concludes that even Rav prohibits lighting one candle from another only by means of a "kisam," meaning, a wooden chip, as it "denigrates" the mitzva. One may, however, light one Chanuka candle directly from another ("mi-sheraga le-sheraga"), even according to Rav. Shmuel, however, permits lighting one candle from another even through the use of a “kisam.”
 
The Tur (674) cites two opinions as to whether Halakha follows the lenient position of Shmuel, or the stricter opinion of Rav. Tosafot (23a s.v. shema) records that it is customary not to light one candle from another, even directly, despite the fact that this is, technically speaking, permissible.
 
The Shulchan Arukh (674:1) cites both opinions brought in the Tur. The Rema, citing Tosafot, records that it is customary not to light one candle from another, neither directly nor through the use of a “kisam.”
 

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