Peninei Halakha

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10. Guests on Shabbat Ĥanuka

When a family goes away for Shabbat, the hosts’ home is considered their home on that Shabbat. Thus, the guests should buy a share in the host’s candles for a pruta, which allows them to fulfill their obligation through the host’s lighting. According to the Ashkenazic custom, it is still preferable for the guests to light their own candles with the berakhot. If the family is staying in a separate residence, according to all customs it is proper for them to light there with the berakhot.

On Saturday night, if the guests plan to return home quickly, it is best for them to wait to light candles at home. If they plan to get home so late that people will no longer be walking on the streets, it is preferable that they fulfill the mitzva the same way they did on Friday, either through their host’s lighting or in the separate residence. If they are not returning home immediately but will still arrive home before it is too late, they may choose where to light. From the perspective of the previous day, their place is in their hosts’ home; but from the perspective of the upcoming day, their place is in their own home. Therefore, they may choose where they wish to light.[17]


[17]. If on Friday of Ĥanuka, a guest can light in his own home just before Shabbat begins, and then walk to his hosts’ home, he may light at his own home. However, he should make sure to light after plag ha-minĥa (at most forty minutes before shki’a; see n. 14 above). After Shabbat, Ĥovat Ha-dar ch. 1 n. 65 states that one should return home to light. In contrast, Halikhot Shlomo 14:19 states that if one is planning to remain at his hosts’ home for an additional half-hour after they light, it is preferable that he light there.

If a wedding takes place on Ĥanuka after shki’a, the bride and groom should each light in their previous homes before the wedding. If they get married before shki’a, some maintain that they should light in their new home after the wedding. Others maintain that if they will arrive at their new home late at night, or if they will be staying in a hotel for the night, they should light in the hall, which, after all, they have rented.

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Translated By:
Series Editor: Rabbi Elli Fischer

The Laws of Shabbat (1+2) - Yocheved Cohen
The Laws of Prayer - Atira Ote
The Laws of Women’s Prayer - Atira Ote
The Laws of Pesach - Joshua Wertheimer
The Laws of Zemanim - Moshe Lichtman

Editor: Nechama Unterman