Scroll of Esther and Hanukkah Chapter 4

כַּמָּה נֵרוֹת הוּא מַדְלִיק בַּחֲנֻכָּה. מִצְוָתָהּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּל בַּיִת וּבַיִת מַדְלִיק נֵר אֶחָד בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מְרֻבִּין בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בּוֹ אֶלָּא אָדָם אֶחָד. וְהַמְהַדֵּר אֶת הַמִּצְוָה מַדְלִיק נֵרוֹת כְּמִנְיַן אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת נֵר לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בֵּין אֲנָשִׁים בֵּין נָשִׁים. וְהַמְהַדֵּר יוֹתֵר עַל זֶה וְעוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר מַדְלִיק נֵר לְכָל אֶחָד בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן וּמוֹסִיף וְהוֹלֵךְ בְּכָל לַיְלָה וְלַיְלָה נֵר אֶחָד:

How many candles should one light on Chanukah? The mitzvah is that a single candle should be lit in each and every house, regardless of whether there are many members of the household, or merely one person [lives] there. 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. A person who is even more conscientious in his performance of the mitzvah than this and observes the mitzvah in the most desirable manner 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].

כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת עֲשָׂרָה. בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן מַדְלִיק עֲשָׂרָה נֵרוֹת וּבְלֵיל שֵׁנִי עֶשְׂרִים וּבְלֵיל שְׁלִישִׁי שְׁלֹשִׁים עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא מַדְלִיק בְּלֵיל שְׁמִינִי שְׁמוֹנִים נֵרוֹת:

What 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.

מִנְהָג פָּשׁוּט בְּכָל עָרֵינוּ בִּסְפָרַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כָּל אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מַדְלִיקִין נֵר אֶחָד בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן וּמוֹסִיפִין וְהוֹלְכִין נֵר בְּכָל לַיְלָה עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא מַדְלִיק בְּלֵיל שְׁמִינִי שְׁמוֹנָה נֵרוֹת בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מְרֻבִּים בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה אָדָם אֶחָד:

It 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].

נֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שְׁתֵּי פִּיּוֹת עוֹלֶה לִשְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם. מִלֵּא קְעָרָה שֶׁמֶן וְהִקִּיפָהּ פְּתִילוֹת. אִם כָּפָה עָלֶיהָ כְּלִי כָּל פְּתִילָה וּפְתִילָה נֶחְשֶׁבֶת כְּנֵר אֶחָד. לֹא כָּפָה עָלֶיהָ כְּלִי נַעֲשֵׂית כִּמְדוּרָה וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּנֵר אֶחָד אֵינָהּ נֶחְשֶׁבֶת:

When a candleholder has two openings, it can be counted for two individuals. [The following rules apply when] one fills a bowl with oil and surrounds it with wicks: If one covers it with a utensil, each of the wicks is considered to be a separate candle. If one does not cover it with a utensil, it is considered to be a large fire, and is not counted even as a single candle.

אֵין מַדְלִיקִין נֵרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה קֹדֶם שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה אֶלָּא עִם שְׁקִיעָתָהּ לֹא מְאַחֲרִין וְלֹא מַקְדִּימִין. שָׁכַח אוֹ הֵזִיד וְלֹא הִדְלִיק עִם שְׁקִיעַת הַחַמָּה מַדְלִיק וְהוֹלֵךְ עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק. וְכַמָּה הוּא זְמַן זֶה כְּמוֹ חֲצִי שָׁעָה אוֹ יֶתֶר. עָבַר זְמַן זֶה אֵינוֹ מַדְלִיק. וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּתֵּן שֶׁמֶן בַּנֵּר כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה דּוֹלֶקֶת וְהוֹלֶכֶת עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק. הִדְלִיקָהּ וְכָבְתָה אֵינוֹ זָקוּק לְהַדְלִיקָהּ פַּעַם אַחֶרֶת. נִשְׁאֲרָה דּוֹלֶקֶת אַחַר שֶׁכָּלְתָה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק אִם רָצָה לְכַבּוֹתָהּ אוֹ לְסַלְּקָהּ עוֹשֶׂה:

The Chanukah candles should not be kindled before sunset. Instead, [they should be kindled] at sunset. One should not light later or earlier. 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. How long a duration of time is this? Approximately half an hour or slightly more than that. Should this time pass, one should not kindle the lights. One should place enough oil in the lamp so that it will continue burning until there are no longer any passersby in the marketplace. If one lit it and it became extinguished, one need not light it a second time. If it remained burning until there are no longer passersby in the marketplace, one may extinguish it or remove it if one desires.

כָּל הַשְּׁמָנִים וְכָל הַפְּתִילוֹת כְּשֵׁרוֹת לְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הַשְּׁמָנִים נִמְשָׁכִים אַחַר הַפְּתִילָה וְאֵין הָאוּר נִתְלֵית יָפֶה בְּאוֹתָן הַפְּתִילוֹת. וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּלֵילֵי שַׁבָּת שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה מֻתָּר לְהַדְלִיק הַשְּׁמָנִים וְהַפְּתִילוֹת שֶׁאָסוּר לְהַדְלִיק בָּהֶן נֵר שַׁבָּת. לְפִי שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה בֵּין בְּשַׁבָּת בֵּין בְּחל וַאֲפִלּוּ לִבְדֹּק מָעוֹת אוֹ לִמְנוֹתָן לְאוֹרָהּ אָסוּר:

All 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. Even on the Sabbath nights of Chanukah, it is permitted to light 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. It is even forbidden to use their light to inspect or count coins.

נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחוֹ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ מִבַּחוּץ בַּטֶּפַח הַסָּמוּךְ לַפֶּתַח עַל שְׂמֹאל הַנִּכְנָס לַבַּיִת כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מְזוּזָה מִיָּמִין וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִשְּׂמֹאל. וְאִם הָיָה דָּר בַּעֲלִיָּה מַנִּיחוֹ בַּחַלּוֹן הַסְּמוּכָה לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁהִנִּיחוֹ לְמַעְלָה מֵעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִכָּר:

It is a mitzvah to place 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, so that the mezuzah will be on the right side and the Chanukah lamp on the left side. When a person lives in a second storey apartment, he should place [the Chanukah lamp] in a window close to the public domain. If [a person] places a Chanukah lamp more than twenty cubits [above the ground], his actions are of no consequence, because [the lamp] does not attract attention [at that height].

בִּימֵי הַסַּכָּנָה מַנִּיחַ אָדָם נֵר חֲנֻכָּה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ מִבִּפְנִים וַאֲפִלּוּ הִנִּיחוֹ עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ דַּיּוֹ. וְצָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת בְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת נֵר אַחֵר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לְאוֹרוֹ. וְאִם הָיְתָה שָׁם מְדוּרָה אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ נֵר אַחֵר. וְאִם אָדָם חָשׁוּב הוּא שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכּוֹ לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לִמְדוּרָה צָרִיךְ נֵר אַחֵר:

In 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. [Therefore,] another lamp must be burning in the house to provide light for one's [mundane] activities. 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.

נֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁהִדְלִיקוֹ חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן אוֹ עַכּוּ"ם לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם עַד שֶׁיַּדְלִיקֶנּוּ מִי שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב בַּהַדְלָקָה. הִדְלִיקוֹ מִבִּפְנִים וְהוֹצִיאוֹ דָּלוּק וְהִנִּיחוֹ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם עַד שֶׁיַּדְלִיקֶנּוּ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ. אָחַז הַנֵּר בְּיָדוֹ וְעָמַד לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם שֶׁהָרוֹאֶה אוֹמֵר לְצָרְכּוֹ הוּא עוֹמֵד. עֲשָׁשִׁית שֶׁהָיְתָה דּוֹלֶקֶת כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ לְמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת מְכַבֶּה וּמְבָרֵךְ וּמַדְלִיקָהּ שֶׁהַהַדְלָקָה הִיא הַמִּצְוָה וְלֹא הַהַנָּחָה. וּמֻתָּר לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִנֵּר חֲנֻכָּה:

A Chanukah lamp that was kindled by a deaf-mute, a mentally incapable person, a minor, or a gentile is of no consequence. 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. 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." 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. It is permissible to light one Chanukah candle from another Chanukah candle.

חָצֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ שְׁנֵי פְּתָחִים בִּשְׁתֵּי רוּחוֹת צְרִיכָה שְׁתֵּי נֵרוֹת. שֶׁמָּא יֹאמְרוּ הָעוֹבְרִים בְּרוּחַ זוֹ לֹא הִנִּיחַ נֵר חֲנֻכָּה. אֲבָל אִם הָיוּ בְּרוּחַ אַחַת מַדְלִיק בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶן:

When 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.

אוֹרֵחַ שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין עָלָיו בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק עָלָיו בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁנִּתְאָרֵחַ בּוֹ. אֵין לוֹ בַּיִת לְהַדְלִיק עָלָיו בּוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁנִּתְאָרֵחַ בּוֹ. וּמִשְׁתַּתֵּף עִמָּהֶן בַּשֶּׁמֶן. וְאִם הָיָה לוֹ בַּיִת בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין עָלָיו בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק בַּבַּיִת שֶׁהוּא בּוֹ מִפְּנֵי הָעוֹבְרִין:

A 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. 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. He should share in the oil [used by the owner of his lodgings]. If he is staying in a private dwelling, 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.

מִצְוַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִצְוָה חֲבִיבָה הִיא עַד מְאֹד וְצָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִזָּהֵר בָּהּ כְּדֵי לְהוֹדִיעַ הַנֵּס וּלְהוֹסִיף בְּשֶׁבַח הָאֵל וְהוֹדָיָה לוֹ עַל הַנִּסִּים שֶׁעָשָׂה לָנוּ. אֲפִלּוּ אֵין לוֹ מַה יֹּאכַל אֶלָּא מִן הַצְּדָקָה שׁוֹאֵל אוֹ מוֹכֵר כְּסוּתוֹ וְלוֹקֵחַ שֶׁמֶן וְנֵרוֹת וּמַדְלִיק:

The mitzvah of [kindling] the candle for Chanukkah is very much a beloved mitzvah, and a person must be very careful with it in order to inform [others of] the miracle and to add to the praise of G-d and gratitude to G-d for all of the miracles that G-d did for us. Even if one does not have anything to eat outside of tzedakah [charity], [such] a [poor] person lends or sells their clothing and[, using that money,] acquires oil and candles and kindles [the flames].

הֲרֵי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא פְּרוּטָה אַחַת וּלְפָנָיו קִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם וְהַדְלָקַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מַקְדִּים לִקְנוֹת שֶׁמֶן לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה עַל הַיַּיִן לְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם. הוֹאִיל וּשְׁנֵיהֶם מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים מוּטָב לְהַקְדִּים נֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ זִכְרוֹן הַנֵּס:

When a person has only a single prutah and he [is required to fulfill both the mitzvot of] sanctifying the [Sabbath] day 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, it is preferable to give precedence to the kindling of the Chanukah lamp, for it commemorates the miracle.

הָיָה לְפָנָיו נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה אוֹ נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם נֵר בֵּיתוֹ קוֹדֵם מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי הַשֵּׁם נִמְחָק לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ. גָּדוֹל הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁכָּל הַתּוֹרָה נִתְּנָה לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ג יז) "דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם":

If [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. [Peace is of primary importance, as reflected by the mitzvah requiring] G-d's name to be blotted out to create peace between a husband and his wife. 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." Blessed be the Merciful One who grants assistance. This concludes the third book.