004 - הִלְכוֹת חֲנֻכָּה פֵּרֶק ד

Laws of Chanukah, Chapter 4

1. How many lights does one kindle on Chanukah? The mitzvah is that each and every household kindles one light, whether there are many people in the house or only one person. One who beautifies the mitzvah kindles lights corresponding to the number of people in the house, one light for each and every person, whether men or women. One who beautifies the mitzvah even more and performs the mitzvah in the most preferred manner kindles one light for each and every person on the first night, and adds one more each night.

2. How is this done? If there are ten people in the house, on the first night he kindles ten lights; on the second night, twenty; on the third night, thirty; until on the eighth night, he kindles eighty.

3. The widespread custom in all our cities in Spain is that all members of the household kindle one light on the first night, and add one light each night, until on the eighth night, eight lights are kindled—whether there are many people in the house or only one person.

4. A lamp that has two spouts counts for two people. If one filled a bowl with oil and surrounded it with wicks—if he covered it with a vessel, each wick is considered a separate lamp; if he did not cover it with a vessel, it is considered like a bonfire, and even for one lamp it is not valid.

5. One does not kindle the Chanukah lights before sunset, but rather at sunset—not earlier and not later. If one forgot or intentionally did not kindle at sunset, he may kindle and continue to do so until people have ceased passing through the marketplace; and how long is this time? About half an hour or more. If this time has passed, he does not kindle. One must put enough oil in the lamp so that it will burn until people have ceased passing through the marketplace. If he lit it and it went out, he is not required to relight it. If it remains burning after people have ceased passing through the marketplace, if he wishes to extinguish it or remove it, he may do so.

6. All oils and all wicks are valid for the Chanukah lamp, even though the oils do not draw well into the wick and the flame does not burn nicely with those wicks. Even on the Shabbos nights that fall during the days of Chanukah, it is permitted to kindle with oils and wicks that are forbidden for the Shabbos lamp, because it is forbidden to use the light of the Chanukah lamp, whether on Shabbos or on weekdays; even to check coins or to count them by its light is forbidden.

7. The mitzvah is to place the Chanukah lamp at the entrance of one's house on the outside, within a handbreadth of the entrance, on the left side of one entering the house, so that the mezuzah is on the right and the Chanukah lamp is on the left. If one lives in an upper story, he places it in the window that faces the public domain. If the Chanukah lamp is placed higher than twenty cubits, it is not valid, because it is not noticeable.

8. In times of danger, one places the Chanukah lamp inside his house, and even if he places it on his table, that is sufficient. There must be another lamp in the house to use its light. If there is a bonfire, another lamp is not needed; but if he is a distinguished person who does not usually use a bonfire, he needs another lamp.

9. If a deaf-mute, a person who is mentally incompetent, a minor, or a non-Jew kindled the Chanukah lamp, it is not valid until someone who is obligated in the kindling kindles it. If one kindled it inside and then brought it out and placed it at the entrance of his house, it is not valid until he kindles it in its place. If one holds the lamp in his hand and stands, it is not valid, for the onlooker will say he is holding it for his own use. If a lamp was burning all day, on Motzaei Shabbos he should extinguish it, recite the blessing, and relight it, for the kindling is the mitzvah, not the placing. It is permitted to kindle one Chanukah lamp from another.

10. A courtyard that has two entrances on two different sides requires two lamps, so that those passing by on either side will not say that he did not place a Chanukah lamp. But if both entrances are on the same side, he kindles at one of them.

11. A guest for whom the members of his household are lighting in his home does not need to light for himself in the place where he is staying. If he does not have a home where they can light for him, he must light in the place where he is staying, and he joins with them in the oil. If he has his own home, even though they are lighting for him in his house, he must light in the house where he is staying, because of those who pass by.

12. The mitzvah of the Chanukah light is a very beloved mitzvah, and a person must be careful with it, in order to publicize the miracle and to add praise and thanks to G‑d for the miracles He performed. Even if a person has nothing to eat except from charity, he should borrow or sell his garment and buy oil and lamps and light.

13. If a person has only one coin, and before him are the obligations of Kiddush for the day and lighting the Chanukah light, he should use the oil to light the Chanukah light rather than buy wine for Kiddush, since both are rabbinic obligations, it is better to give precedence to the Chanukah light, which contains a remembrance of the miracle.

14. If he is faced with the choice between the lamp for his home and the Chanukah light, or between the lamp for his home and Kiddush for the day, the lamp for his home takes precedence, because of peace in the home. For the name of G‑d is erased to make peace between a man and his wife. Great is peace, for the entire Torah was given to make peace in the world, as it is said: "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace" (Mishlei 3:17).

Blessed is the Merciful One Who has helped us.

The third book is completed, with the help of the Almighty.

The number of chapters in this book is ninety-seven:

Laws of Shabbos, thirty chapters;
Laws of Eruvin, eight chapters;
Laws of Shevisas Asor, three chapters;
Laws of Shevisas Yom Tov, eight chapters;
Laws of Chametz and Matzah, eight chapters;
Laws of Shofar, Sukkah, and Lulav, eight chapters;
Laws of Shekalim, four chapters;
Laws of Sanctification of the New Month, nineteen chapters;
Laws of Fasts, five chapters;
Laws of Megillah and Chanukah, four chapters.