{"id":8722,"date":"2010-05-13T02:00:59","date_gmt":"2010-05-12T23:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=8722"},"modified":"2017-07-17T10:29:00","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T07:29:00","slug":"05-13-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/05-13-02\/","title":{"rendered":"02. Private Homes"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Sages\u2019 enactment seems to indicate that in the past there was no concern that the wind would blow out the \u0124anuka candles that were lit at the entrance to the home. Homes were built close together, many cities and courtyards were enclosed by a wall, and there were no strong winds blowing between the homes. Therefore, evidently, it was possible to light candles outside entranceways and courtyards without worrying that the candles would blow out. Today, though, when one lights candles outside, the wind usually blows them out. The only way to protect the candles is to light them in a glass box, like an aquarium.<\/p>\n
However, the Sages never required people to buy glass boxes in order to fulfill the mitzva of lighting \u0124anuka candles. Therefore, one who does not wish to buy a glass box may light the candles inside his home. If he lights in a window facing the street, he beautifies the mitzva of publicizing the miracle to the same degree as one who lights in the entranceway, though he does not further beautify the mitzva by lighting on the left side of the entranceway and thus surrounding himself with mitzvot<\/em> (the mezuza<\/em> on the right and the candles on the left). Those who wish to beautify the mitzva to the greatest extent should buy a glass box and light outside the entranceway of the house on the left side. If several family members are lighting, as is the Ashkenazic custom (above, 12:3-4), they should make sure that every menora appears distinct, so that it is clear how many candles are lit on each day of \u0124anuka. Another possibility is for the other household members to light inside the home, at the window.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n In the past, many homes had walled courtyards, and people would exit to the street through a gate in the wall. In such a case, the courtyard was considered an extension of the home and the correct place to light was in the entranceway of the courtyard. In contrast, today\u2019s front yards are not walled, and therefore the correct place to light is at the entranceway to the home itself.[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n In some homes, the entranceway is not clearly visible to many people on the street, while lighting in the window would be more clearly visible from the street. Some maintain that, in such a case, it is still preferable to light in the entranceway, as doing so follows the Sages\u2019 original enactment, so that one who enters the home will be surrounded by mitzvot<\/em>. Others maintain that lighting in the window is preferable in this case, since the primary reason for the enactment is to publicize the miracle, and more people will see the candles if they are lit in the window. In practice, it seems that the mitzva is rendered more beautiful when one lights in the window. However, there is also an advantage to lighting in the entranceway.[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n We have already seen in Shabbat<\/em> 21b that when it was dangerous to light outside, people lit on a table inside. However, even when the danger subsided, people continued lighting inside, to the left of the doorway. Thus states Rema 671:7. Or Zaru\u2019a<\/em> expresses surprise that once the danger had passed people did not go back to lighting outside. Itur<\/em> explains that once people began lighting inside, the custom remained even after the danger had passed. Some continue this practice to the present time (Min\u0125at Yitz\u0125ak<\/em> 6:66; Yemei Ha-\u0124anuka<\/em> 3:2; Piskei Teshuvot<\/em> 671 n. 11). See also Torat Ha-mo\u2019adim<\/em> 3:4 which states that this is the custom of most Sephardic communities. Nevertheless, the most straightforward understanding of the Gemara and the Rishonim is that it is preferable to light outside the doorway of the home, or in a window facing the street. Both these options are supported by the Gemara in Shabbat<\/em> 21b, and they both serve to publicize the miracle more effectively.<\/p>\n
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