Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day - Daily Torah Study

1How many candles should one light on Chanukah? The mitzvah1 is that a single candle should be lit2 in each and every house, regardless of whether there are many members of the household, or merely one person lives there.אכַּמָּה נֵרוֹת הוּא מַדְלִיק בַּחֲנֻכָּה? מִצְוָתָהּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּל בַּיִת וּבַיִת מַדְלִיק נֵר אֶחָד, בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מְרֻבִּין בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בּוֹ אֶלָא אָדָם אֶחָד.

A person who performs the mitzvah in a beautiful and conscientious manner should light candles for every member of the household, whether male or female.וְהַמְּהַדֵּר אֶת הַמִּצְוָה, מַדְלִיק נֵרוֹת כְּמִנְיַן אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת, נֵר לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, בֵּין אֲנָשִׁים בֵּין נָשִׁים.

A person who is even more conscientious in his performance of the mitzvah than this and observes the mitzvah in the most desirable manner3 should light candles for every member of his household, a candle for each individual, whether male or female, on the first night. On each subsequent night, he should add a candle for each of the members of the household.4וְהַמְּהַדֵּר יוֹתֵר עַל זֶה וְעוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר, מַדְלִיק נֵר לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן, וּמוֹסִיף וְהוֹלֵךְ בְּכָל לַיְלָה וְלַיְלָה נֵר אֶחָד.

2What does the above imply? When there are ten members of a household, on the first night one lights ten candles, on the second night - twenty, on the third night - thirty, until on the eighth night, one lights eighty candles.בכֵּיצַד? הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת עֲשָׂרָה - בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן, מַדְלִיק עֲשָׂרָה נֵרוֹת; וּבְלֵיל שֵׁנִי, עֶשְׂרִים; וּבְלֵיל שְׁלִישִׁי, שְׁלוֹשִׁים; עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא מַדְלִיק בְּלֵיל שְׁמִינִי, שְׁמוֹנִים.

3It is common custom in all of our cities in Spain that a single candle is lit for all the members of the household on the first night. We proceed to add a new candle on each and every night, until on the eighth night eight candles are lit. This practice is followed regardless of whether there are many members of the household or only one man is lighting candles.גמִנְהָג פָּשׁוּט בְּכָל עָרֵינוּ בִּסְפָרַד, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כָּל אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מַדְלִיקִין נֵר אֶחָד בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן, וּמוֹסִיפִין וְהוֹלְכִין נֵר בְּכָל לַיְלָה וְלַיְלָה, עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא מַדְלִיק בְּלֵיל שְׁמִינִי שְׁמוֹנָה נֵרוֹת - בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מְרֻבִּים בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה אָדָם אֶחָד.

4When a candleholder has two openings,5 it can be counted for two individuals.דנֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שְׁנֵי פִּיּוֹת, עוֹלֶה לִשְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם.

The following rules apply when one fills a bowl with oil and surrounds it with wicks: If one covers it with a utensil,6 each of the wicks is considered to be a separate candle. If one does not cover it with a utensil,7 it is considered to be a large fire, and is not counted even as a single candle.8מִלֵּא קְעָרָה שֶׁמֶן וְהִקִּיפָהּ פְּתִילוֹת: אִם כָּפָה עָלֶיהָ כְּלִי, כָּל פְּתִילָה וּפְתִילָה נֶחְשֶׁבֶת כְּנֵר אֶחָד; לֹא כָפָה עָלֶיהָ כְּלִי, נַעֲשָׂת כִּמְדוּרָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּנֵר אֶחָד אֵינָהּ נֶחְשֶׁבֶת.

5The Chanukah candles should not be kindled before sunset. Instead, they should be kindled at sunset. One should not light later or earlier.האֵין מַדְלִיקִין נֵרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה קֹדֶם שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה, אֶלָא עִם שְׁקִיעָתָהּ - לֹא מְאַחֲרִין וְלֹא מַקְדִּימִין.

Should one forget, or even if one purposely did not light at sunset, one may light afterwards until there are no longer any passersby in the marketplace.9שָׁכַח אוֹ הֵזִיד וְלֹא הִדְלִיק עִם שְׁקִיעַת הַחַמָּה, מַדְלִיק וְהוֹלֵךְ עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק.

How long a duration of time is this? Approximately half an hour or slightly more than that.וְכַמָּה הוּא זְמַן זֶה? כְּמוֹ חֲצִי שָׁעָה אוֹ יָתֵר.

Should this time pass, one should not kindle the lights.עָבַר זְמַן זֶה, אֵינוֹ מַדְלִיק.

One should place enough oil in the lamp so that it will continue burning until there are no longer any passersby in the marketplace.וְצָרִיךְ לִתֵּן שֶׁמֶן בַּנֵּר, כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה דּוֹלֶקֶת וְהוֹלֶכֶת, עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק.

If one lit it and it became extinguished, one need not light it a second time.הִדְלִיקָהּ וְכָבְתָה, אֵינוֹ זָקוּק לְהַדְלִיקָהּ פַּעַם אַחֶרֶת.

If it remained burning until there are no longer passersby in the marketplace, one may extinguish it or remove it if one desires.נִשְׁאֲרָה דּוֹלֶקֶת אַחַר שֶׁכָּלְתָה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק - אִם רָצָה לְכַבּוֹתָהּ אוֹ לְסַלְּקָהּ, עוֹשֶׂה.

6All oils and all wicks are acceptable for use in the Chanukah lamps, even those oils that are not drawn after the wick and even those wicks that do not hold the light well.וכָּל הַשְּׁמָנִים וְכָל הַפְּתִילוֹת כְּשֵׁרוֹת לְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הַשְּׁמָנִים נִמְשָׁכִים אַחַר הַפְּתִילָה, וְאֵין הָאוּר נִתְלֵית יָפֶה בְּאוֹתָן הַפְּתִילוֹת.

Even on the Sabbath nights of Chanukah, it is permitted to light10 with oils and wicks that are forbidden to be used for the Sabbath lights. The reason for this leniency is that it is forbidden to use the Chanukah candles for one’s own purposes whether on the Sabbath or on a weekday.11 It is even forbidden to use their light to inspect or count coins.וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּלֵילֵי שַׁבָּת שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה מֻתָּר לְהַדְלִיק בִּשְׁמָנִים וּפְתִילוֹת שֶׁאָסוּר לְהַדְלִיק בָּהֶן נֵר שַׁבָּת, לְפִי שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵשׁ לְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה, בֵּין בַּשַּׁבָּת בֵּין בַּחֹל. וַאֲפִלּוּ לִבְדֹּק מָעוֹת אוֹ לִמְנוֹתָן לְאוֹרָהּ - אָסוּר.

7It is a mitzvah to place12 the Chanukah lamp at the outside of the entrance to one’s home, within the handbreadth that is closest to the doorway on the left side as one enters the home,13 so that the mezuzah will be on the right side and the Chanukah lamp on the left side.זנֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחוֹ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ מִבַּחוּץ, בְּטֶפַח הַסָּמוּךְ לַפֶּתַח, עַל שְׂמֹאל הַנִּכְנָס לַבַּיִת - כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מְזוּזָה מִיָּמִין, וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִשְּׂמֹאל.

When a person lives in a second storey apartment, he should place the Chanukah lamp in a window close to the public domain.וְאִם הָיָה דָּר בַּעֲלִיָּה, מַנִּיחוֹ בְּחַלּוֹן הַסְּמוּכָה לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים.

If a person places a Chanukah lamp more than twenty cubits14 above the ground, his actions are of no consequence, because the lamp does not attract attention at that height.וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁהִנִּיחוֹ לְמַעֲלָה מֵעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה - לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם, לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִכָּר.

8In a time of danger, a person may place a Chanukah lamp inside his house; even if he lit it on his table, it is sufficient.חבִּימֵי הַסַּכָּנָה מַנִּיחַ אָדָם נֵר חֲנֻכָּה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ מִבִּפְנִים. וַאֲפִלּוּ הִנִּיחוֹ עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ, דַּיּוֹ.

Therefore, another lamp must be burning in the house to provide light for one’s mundane activities.15 If a fire is burning in the house, an additional candle is not necessary. For a prestigious person who does not normally use the light of a fire, an additional candle is required.וְצָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת בְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת נֵר אֶחָר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵשׁ לְאוֹרוֹ. וְאִם הָיְתָה שָׁם מְדוּרָה, אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ נֵר אַחֵר. וְאִם אָדָם חָשׁוּב הוּא שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכּוֹ לְהִשְׁתַּמֵשׁ לִמְדוּרָה, צָרִיךְ נֵר אַחֵר.

9A Chanukah lamp that was kindled by a deaf-mute, a mentally incapable person, a minor, or a gentile is of no consequence.16 It must be kindled by a person who is obligated to light it. Should the Chanukah lamp be kindled inside and then taken and placed at the entrance of one’s home while it is still burning, it is of no consequence. One must light it in its place.טנֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁהִדְלִיקוֹ חֵרֵשׁ, שׁוֹטֶה, וְקָטָן, אוֹ גּוֹי - לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם, עַד שֶׁיַּדְלִיקוֹ מִי שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב בְּהַדְלָקָה. הִדְלִיקוֹ מִבִּפְנִים וְהוֹצִיאוֹ דָּלוּק וְהִנִּיחוֹ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ - לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם, עַד שֶׁיַּדְלִיקֶנּוּ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ.

If one held a candle and stood in one place, it is of no consequence, since an observer will say, “He is standing there for his own purposes.”אָחַז הַנֵּר בְּיָדוֹ וְעָמַד, לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם, שֶׁהָרוֹאֶה אוֹמֵר 'לְצָרְכּוֹ הוּא עוֹמֵד'.

When a lamp was burning through the entire Sabbath day, one may extinguish the light, recite the blessings for the mitzvah, and relight the lamp. Kindling the lamp fulfills the mitzvah and not placing it down.עֲשָׁשִׁית שֶׁהָיְתָה דּוֹלֶקֶת כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ, לְמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת מְכַבֶּה, וּמְבָרֵךְ, וּמַדְלִיקָהּ. שֶׁהַהַדְלָקָה הִיא הַמִּצְוָה, וְלֹא הַהַנָּחָה.

It is permissible to light one Chanukah candle from another Chanukah candle.וּמֻתָּר לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִנֵּר חֲנֻכָּה אַחֵר.

10When a courtyard has two entrances from two different directions, it requires two Chanukah lamps. Were one to light at only one entrance, the passersby from the other direction might say, “A Chanukah light had not been placed down.” If, however, two entrances to a courtyard are located on the same side, it is sufficient to light at only one of them.יחָצֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ שְׁנֵי פְּתָחִים בִּשְׁתֵּי רוּחוֹת, צְרִיכָה שְׁנֵי נֵרוֹת, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ הָעוֹבְרִים בְּרוּחַ זוֹ 'לֹא הִנִּיחַ נֵר חֲנֻכָּה'. אֲבָל אִם הָיוּ בְּרוּחַ אַחַת, מַדְלִיק בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶן.

11A guest at another person’s home, whose family kindles the Chanukah lights for him at his home need not kindle Chanukah lights in the home where he is temporarily lodging.יאאוֹרֵחַ שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין עָלָיו בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק עָלָיו בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁנִּתְאָרַח בּוֹ.

If, however, he has no home in which Chanukah lights are being kindled, he is required to light in the place where he is lodging.17 He should share in the oil used by the owner of his lodgings.אֵין לוֹ בַּיִת לְהַדְלִיק עָלָיו בּוֹ - צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁנִּתְאָרַח בּוֹ, וּמִשְׁתַּתֵּף עִמָּהֶן בַּשֶּׁמֶן.

If he is staying in a private dwelling,18 he is required to light in the place where he is staying, even though Chanukah lights are being kindled for him at home, because of the impression created in the minds of the passersby.וְאִם הָיָה לוֹ בַּיִת בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין עָלָיו בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ - צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק בַּבַּיִת שֶׁהוּא בּוֹ, מִפְּנֵי הָעוֹבְרִין.

12The mitzvah of kindling Chanukah lamps is very dear. A person should be very careful in its observance to publicize the miracle and thus increase our praise of God and our expression of thanks for the miracles which He wrought on our behalf.יבמִצְוַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִצְוָה חַבִיבָה הִיא עַד מְאוֹד, וְצָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִזָּהֵר בָּהּ, כְּדֵי לְהוֹדִיעַ הַנֵּס, וּלְהוֹסִיף בְּשֶׁבַח הָאֵל וְהוֹדָיָה לוֹ, עַל הַנִּסִּים שֶׁעָשָׂה לָנוּ.

Even if a person has no resources for food except what he receives from charity, he should pawn or sell his garments and purchase oil and lamps to kindle them in fulfillment of the mitzvah.אֲפִלּוּ אֵין לוֹ מַה יֹאכַל אֶלָא מִן הַצְּדָקָה - שׁוֹאֵל אוֹ מוֹכֵר כְּסוּתוֹ וְלוֹקֵחַ שֶׁמֶן וְנֵרוֹת, וּמַדְלִיק.

13When a person has only a single prutah19 and he is required to fulfill both the mitzvot of sanctifying the Sabbath day20 and lighting the Chanukah lamp, he should give precedence to purchasing oil to kindle the Chanukah lamp over purchasing wine to recite kiddush. Since both of these mitzvot are Rabbinic in origin,21 it is preferable to give precedence to the kindling of the Chanukah lamp, for it commemorates the miracle.יגהֲרֵי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אֶלָא פְּרוּטָה אַחַת, וּלְפָנָיו קִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם וְהַדְלָקַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה - מַקְדִּים שֶׁמֶן לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה, עַל הַיַּיִן לְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם; הוֹאִיל וּשְׁנֵיהֶם מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים, מוּטָב לְהַקְדִּים נֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ זִכְרוֹן הַנֵּס.

14If a person has the opportunity to fulfill only one of two mitzvot, lighting a lamp for one’s home i.e., Sabbath candles or lighting a Chanukah lamp - or, alternatively, lighting a lamp for one’s home or reciting kiddush - the lamp for one’s home receives priority, since it generates peace within the home.ידהָיָה לְפָנָיו נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה, אוֹ נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם - נֵר בֵּיתוֹ קוֹדֵם, מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם בֵּיתוֹ;

Peace is of primary importance, as reflected by the mitzvah requiring God’s name to be blotted out to create peace between a husband and his wife.22 Peace is great, for the entire Torah was given to bring about peace within the world, as Proverbs 3:17 states: “Its ways are pleasant ways and all its paths are peace.”שֶׁהֲרֵי הַשֵּׁם נִמְחָק לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ. גָּדוֹל הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁכָּל הַתּוֹרָה נִתְּנָה לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם" (משלי ג, יז).

Blessed be the Merciful One Who grants assistance.בְּרִיךְ רַחְמָנָא דְּסַיְּעַן.

This concludes the third book with G‑d’s assistance. It contains 10 Halachot 97 chapters:נִגְמַר סֵפֶר שְׁלִישִׁי, בְּעֶזְרַת שַׁדַּי. וּמִנְיַן פְּרָקִים שֶׁל סֵפֶר זֶה, שִׁבְעָה וְתִשְׁעִים:

Hilchot Shabbat - 30 chapters;הִלְכוֹת שַׁבָּת, שְׁלוֹשִׁים פְּרָקִים;

Hilchot Eruvin - 8 chapters;הִלְכוֹת עֵרוּבִין, שְׁמוֹנָה פְּרָקִים;

Hilchot Sh’vitat Asor - 3 chapters;הִלְכוֹת שְׁבִיתַת עָשׂוֹר, שְׁלוֹשָׁה פְּרָקִים;

Hilchot Sh’vitat Yom Tov - 8 chapters;הִלְכוֹת שְׁבִיתַת יוֹם טוֹב, שְׁמוֹנָה פְּרָקִים;

Hilchot Chametz uMatzah - 8 chapters;הִלְכוֹת חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה, שְׁמוֹנָה פְּרָקִים;

Hilchot Shofar, Sukkah, v’Lulav - 8 chapters;הִלְכוֹת שׁוֹפָר וְסֻכָּה וְלוּלָב, שְׁמוֹנָה פְּרָקִים;

Hilchot Shekalim - 4 chapters;הִלְכוֹת שְׁקָלִים, אַרְבָּעָה פְּרָקִים;

Hilchot Kiddush HaChodesh - 19 chapters;הִלְכוֹת קִדּוּשׁ הַחֹדֶשׁ, תִּשְׁעָה עָשָׁר פְּרָקִים;

Hilchot Ta’aniot - 5 chapters;הִלְכוֹת תַּעְנִיּוֹת, חֲמִשָּׁה פְּרָקִים;

Hilchot Megillah v’Chanukah - 4 chapters.הִלְכוֹת מְגִלָּה וַחֲנֻכָּה, אַרְבָּעָה פְּרָקִים.

בְּשֵׁם ה' אֵל עוֹלָם.

Footnotes

I.e., the minimal requirement to fulfill the mitzvah.

On each night of the holiday.

Shabbat (loc. cit.) describes such a person as mehadrin min hamehadrin.

E. g., on the second night, he lights two candles for each of the members of the household, as explained in the following halachah.

And a wick is kindled in both of them.

The flames from each of the lights will not merge together.

The flames from each of the lights may merge together as a single flame.

A large fire may be used for several purposes and hence does not necessarily serve as a sign of the commemoration of the Chanukah miracle.

Once the passersby no longer walk in the street, one will not be publicizing the Chanukah miracle by lighting candles.

10.

The Chanukah lights.

11.

The Sabbath candles were instituted to bring about sh’lom bayit, “peace in the home,” through the use of their light. In contrast, the Chanukah candles were instituted for pirsumei nisa, publicizing the Chanukah miracle. To emphasize this purpose, the Sages forbade using them for any other purpose.
Furthermore, the Chanukah candles were instituted to commemorate the miracle of the Menorah in the Temple. Thus, just as it is forbidden to use the Menorah’s light for any worldly purpose, so too, the light of the Chanukah candles is prohibited (Mishnah Berurah 673:8).

12.

As is obvious from Halachah 9, the Chanukah lamp should be placed outside before being lit.

13.

Generally, mitzvot are associated with the right side; the left side, by contrast, is identified with the forces of evil. Lighting the Chanukah candle on the left indicates a potential to refine and elevate the forces opposed to holiness (Likkutei Sichot, Vol. V).

14.

A cubit is between 18 and 24 inches, according to the varying Rabbinic opinions.

15.

As mentioned in Halachah 6, it is forbidden to use the light of the Chanukah lamp for a mundane purpose. Since it is very likely that there will be some activity carried out in the house while the candles are burning, an additional light should be kindled. Note the Mishnah Berurah 673:14, which explains that the present custom is to kindle an additional light near the Chanukah candles, besides the light that is ordinarily burning in the room.
This light, called the shamash, should be placed apart from the Chanukah candles so that it can be distinguished from them (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 673:1).

16.

I.e., it does not constitute fulfillment of the mitzvah. All these four individuals are not obligated to fulfill mitzvot. Therefore, their kindling of the Chanukah lamp cannot fulfill the obligation instituted by our Sages.

17.

He need not, however, kindle his own Chanukah lamp.

18.

More specifically, if the dwelling where he is staying has a private entrance (Shulchan Aruch, loc. cit.)

19.

A prutah is worth.05 gram of silver, approximately 5-10 cents in today’s currency.

20.

Reciting Kiddush.

21.

There is a Biblical commandment to “Remember the Sabbath to sanctify it” (Exodus 20:8). This commandment, however, involves merely making a statement of the day’s holiness; the concept of associating the kiddush with wine is Rabbinic in origin (Hilchot Shabbat 29:1,6).

22.

The Rambam is referring to the process of testing a sotah, a woman suspected of committing adultery. A curse against her containing God’s name is written on a scroll. The text is rubbed out in water, and the water is given to the woman to drink. If she indeed committed adultery, she will die. (See Numbers 5:11-31; Hilchot Sotah 3:8-10.)

Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day

Megillah v'Chanukah - Chapter 4

Megillah v'Chanukah - Chapter 4