Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email

Can one use a circular menorah?

The nes of Chanukah occurred with the light of a ner . Therefore, the lights of the menorah must appear as individual lights and not as a bonfire. The candles should not be arranged in a circle, since this creates the appearance of a bonfire. Furthermore, when the candles give the impression of being a torch, it looks like the menorah was lit for one’s own enjoyment and not for the sake of the mitzvah . If there is a space the width of a finger between the lights, the circular configuration is acceptable. L’chatchilah, though, the candles should be arranged in a straight line. This is a hidur mitzvah and more closely resembles the menorah in the Beis Hamikdosh.

[שו"ע תרעא, ד, משנ"ב יח, וביה"ל ד"ה ומותר; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 35 ,40 ו־41]

Can a menorah be arranged in a zigzag formation?

The poskim say that one should not arrange his menorah in a zigzag formation (with one candle pushed inward and one outward). They offer various reasons for this ruling: 1) A zigzag formation can be confused with a circular menorah, and one may come to light a circular menorah as a result. 2) As in the case of a circle, a zigzag formation can look like a bonfire. 3) In a zigzag formation, each candle looks separate from the others. It will not be obvious that this is one menorah, and it will not be clear how many candles were lit. If a person lights floating wicks in a bowl of oil, some poskim say that he is not yotzei because it looks like a bonfire.

[משנ"ב תרעא, טו; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 33 ו־36]

Can two people share the same menorah?

Two people who live in the same building and plan to light their menoros at the building’s entrance should be certain to light in a way that shows clearly that there are two different people lighting. For example, if they are sharing one box for both of their menoros, they should place them on different levels. They may even share one menorah if one person lights on one end and his neighbor lights on the other end. There must be a space or an ornament which clearly marks that there are different people sharing the menorah. If they light in a way which does not make it apparent that two people are lighting, the Achronim disagree about whether they are yotzei bedieved.

[ביאורים ומוספים דרשו תרעא, 32-31]

Some Achronim rule that a homeless person, or one who will not be in a home for one of the nights of Chanukah, is exempt from the mitzvah of hadlokas ner Chanukah. They explain that the primary obligation is for the home to have neiros. A person without a home is therefore not obligated to light.

The poskim disagree about whether a temporary mobile home is considered to have the halachic status of a home that would obligate one to light candles. For example, if a person is traveling on a boat or a train, there is a disagreement about whether he is obligated to light candles.

Each adult resident of a home is obligated in the mitzvah of lighting the menorah. The basic obligation is for one member of the household to light one candle each night of Chanukah. This concept is known as ner ish u’beiso.

Can one light the menorah at the entrance to an apartment building?

Which window is preferable for lighting the menorah?

What is the preferable height of the menorah?

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.