SECTION 270 To Recite [the Chapter of] Mishnayos [Entitled] Bameh Madlikin (1-2)

סימן ער לוֹמַר מִשְׁנַת בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין וּבוֹ ב׳ סְעִיפִים׃

1 It is customary to recite the chapter [of Mishnayos entitled] Bameh Madlikin,1 because it contains the laws pertaining to the kindling of the Shabbos lights and the three instructions a person must convey [to his household] as nightfall approaches.2

Sephardic custom is to recite this chapter before the Evening Service, so that through reciting this chapter one will bring to mind the three instructions a person must convey [to his household] and alert them regarding them. Also, this will enable one to know which substances may be used for kindling [the Shabbos lights] and which may not be used, and alert them to act accordingly. After the Evening Service, by contrast, what will be gained by remembering this matter? He will not be able in any case to correct anything at this time.

In these countries,3 however, we are not concerned about this point. Instead, [the chapter] is recited after the [Evening] Service so that one who came late to the synagogue will be able to complete his prayers while the congregation is reciting it.4 Therefore, it is not customary to recite [this chapter] on the Shabbos of Chol HaMoed, because people are not involved in their work to the same extent as usual and thus will not come so late to the synagogue. How much more so does this apply when a festival falls on Friday!5 Similarly, when a festival coincides with Shabbos, it is not customary to recite [this chapter] so that [the congregation] may hasten to [participate in] the rejoicing of the festival.

א נוֹהֲגִים לוֹמַר פֶּרֶק "בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין",1 לְפִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ דִּין הַדְלָקָה וְהַג' דְּבָרִיםא שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לוֹמַר עִם חֲשֵׁכָה.ב,2

וְהַסְּפָרַדִּים אוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ קֹדֶם תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית,ג כְּדֵי שֶׁעַל יְדֵי קְרִיאַת פֶּרֶק זֶה יִזְכּוֹר הַג' דְּבָרִים שֶׁצָּרִיךְ אָדָם לוֹמַר וְיַזְהִיר עֲלֵיהֶם, וְגַם כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ "בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין וּבַמֶּה אֵין מַדְלִיקִין", וְיִזָּהֲרוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן, אֲבָל אַחַר תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית – מַה תּוֹעֶלֶת שֶׁיִּזְכּוֹר? הֲלֹא אֵין בְּיָדוֹ לְתַקֵּן מֵעַתָּה.ד

אֲבָל בִּמְדִינוֹת אֵלּוּ3 אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁים לָזֶה,ה אֶלָּא אוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ אַחַר הַתְּפִלָּה, כְּדֵי שֶׁמִּי שֶׁאֵחַר לָבֹא לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת יְסַיֵּם תְּפִלָּתוֹ בְּעוֹד שֶׁהַצִּבּוּר אוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ.4

וְלָכֵן אֵין נוֹהֲגִין לְאָמְרוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת שֶׁל חֹל הַמּוֹעֵד, שֶׁאָז אֵין מִתְאַחֲרִין כָּל כָּךְ, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂים מְלָאכָה כָּל כָּךְ.ו וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בְּיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת.ז,5 וְכֵן בְּיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָל בְּשַׁבָּת אֵין נוֹהֲגִין לְאָמְרוֹ,ח כְּדֵי לְמַהֵר בְּשִׂמְחַת יוֹם טוֹב:

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2 In places where it is customary to recite Kiddush in the synagogue,6 Kiddush should be recited before the recitation of [the chapter] Bameh madlikin, because the day should be sanctified as early as possible.7

ב בִּמְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁמְּקַדְּשִׁים בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶתט,6 יֵשׁ לְקַדֵּשׁ קֹדֶם אֲמִירַת "בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין",י לְפִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לְהַקְדִּים קְדֻשַּׁת הַיּוֹם בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁאֶפְשָׁר:יא,7