3192 —זמן הדלקת נר חנוכה ושימוש בנרות חשמליים

B"H, 16 Teves, 5715.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Yaakov Zaltz

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 8th of Teves, in which you continue discussing the lighting of Chanukah candles—according to the commentators who hold that it should be done at sunset, meaning at nightfall—how is it possible to light before this time, since the act of lighting constitutes the mitzvah? You are correct if it is significantly earlier, such as before Plag HaMinchah*, but when lighting close to the designated time on Erev Shabbos, even according to that opinion one fulfills the obligation.

Regarding your question about lighting Chanukah candles with electric lights: this has been discussed extensively in responsa such as Beit Yitzchak, Pekudat Elazar, Levushei Mordechai; see also Ma'orei HaEsh and apparently there is also a discussion in the journal Kol Torah published in Jerusalem. As for what you wrote in your letter—and similarly in Pekudat Elazar—that one does not fulfill the obligation because there must be a set duration at the time of lighting and perhaps someone will turn off the electric current or as you wrote that it is common for it to be turned off, I do not agree with this reasoning at all. Since turning off or interrupting comes from an external source by someone with free choice and is by no means certain, for these two reasons it is not comparable to a common wind or similar cases.

With blessing,
In the name of the Rebbe Shlita
Secretary:

Summary

The Rebbe clarifies that Chanukah candles should be lit close to nightfall but allows earlier lighting on Erev Shabbos. He addresses using electric lights for Chanukah candles, citing halachic sources and explaining that concerns about interruptions do not invalidate their use.