Insights into Halacha

For the week ending 9 December 2017 / 21 Kislev 5778

The Chanuka Candle - Havdalah Hullabaloo

by Rabbi Yehuda Spitz
Library Library Kaddish

Chanuka, O Chanuka…


Important note: This question is only relevant if one has already ended Shabbos by reciting either “Attah Chonantanu” in Maariv or “Hamavdil Bein Kodesh l’Chol”. Otherwise one would not be allowed to light Chanuka candles while it is still Shabbos for him.

Light the Menorah

Motzai Shabbos Chanuka is unique as it presents a situation of competing halachic principles. This has been the basis of the centuries-old debate regarding which mitzvah has priority and should therefore be performed first. The Shulchan Aruch rules that on Motzai Shabbos one should light the Chanuka Menorah in Shul before making Havdalah.[1] The Rema adds that certainly at home one must do so as well, as lighting the Menorah precedes making Havdalah.[2] This is based on the Terumas Hadeshen’s applying the Talmudic dictum of “Afukei Yoma M’achrinan”, or delaying the leaving of Shabbos (see Gemara Pesachim 105b). Meaning, if one can delay ending Shabbos, he should do whatever is necessary to keep the holiness of Shabbos a bit longer. Therefore, they rule that it would be preferable to light the Menorah before making Havdalah, especially as it will augment the “Pirsumei Nissa” by at least a few precious minutes.

Taz: Tadir Tonight



Taking Sides

As mentioned previously, this halachic debate has been ongoing for centuries,[6] with many Poskim taking opposing sides. Those who sided with the Rema to light the Chanuka Menorah first at home include such luminaries as the Levush, Magen Avraham, Vilna Gaon, Elya Rabba, and Chayei Adam,[7] while other renowned decisors, including the Pri Chodosh, Chida, Ben Ish Chai, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, and Aruch Hashulchan[8] conclude that the Taz was correct and one should make Havdalah first.

Many decisors offer additional rationales and reasons to explain why they feel that the other opinion is incorrect. For example, the famed Avnei Nezer wrote a point-by-point refutation of the Taz’s proofs, while the Chedvas Yaakov later did the same to his arguments.[9] And, interestingly, although Rav Yaakov Emden cites that his father, the renowned Chacham Tzvi, scorned those who would light Chanuka candles first, he nevertheless personally concluded that that is the correct course of action.[10]

Contemporary Kindling

Contemporary authorities also have taken sides on this issue. The Chazon Ish zt”l, Rav Yosef Elyahu Henkin zt”l, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, Rav Shmuel Halevi Wosner zt”l, and Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, all personally made Havdalah first[11], while the Tukachinsky Luach Eretz Yisrael, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbachzt”l, and Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashivzt”l[12] ruled that Neiros Chanuka should be kindled first.

In fact, Rav Shlomo Zalman and Rav Elyashiv were such ardent supporters of lighting the Menorah immediately after Shabbos that they ruled that even those who normally wait 72 minutes for Shabbos to end (“Zman Rabbeinu Tam”) should not do so on Motzai Shabbos Chanuka; rather they should end Shabbos at an earlier zman and immediately light Chanuka candles, followed by Havdalah. This is also how the Chazon Ish and Steipler Gaon zt”l personally were noheg on Motzai Shabbos Chanuka. (Although they personally made Havdalah first, they still would perform both before “Zman Rabbeinu Tam” on Motzai Shabbos Chanuka.)[13]


However, a further qualification is made by Rav Moshe Sternbuch and the Karlsberger Rav, Rav Yechezkal Roth,[15] that even according to those who hold to make Havdalah first, nevertheless, if the setup and making Havdalah would delay the Chanuka lighting more than a half hour after nightfall, then it would be preferable to light the Menorah first, to ensure that one does not miss an opportunity for the optimal time of the Mitzvah of kindling the Menorah.

Lighting It Up

So, knowing that there is such a huge difference of opinion as to the proper halacha, what is one to do? The Mishnah Berurah, asking that very same question, famously concludes that in shul one should light Chanuka candles before making Havdalah[16] (if applicable; many, if not most, shuls nowadays do not make a communal Havdalah), yet at home “d’avid k’mar avid, d’avid k’mar avid”, whichever shitta one decides to follow, he is acting correctly.[17] Accordingly, even if you have a minhag to light the Menorah first while your neighbor is busy making Havdalah first, both of you should realize that both are equally halachically valid opinions.

It is told that Rav Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld zt”l used to ask his wife to prepare his Menorah for him on Motzai Shabbos Chanuka outside his house (observing Minhag Yerushalayim) while he was still in shul. This way, when he came home, he would not have to enter into this machlokes haposkim and decide which opinion to follow, but rather immediately light the Menorah (before Havdalah) before actually entering his house, in order not to “pass over a Mitzvah”.[18]

It is reported that Rav Yisrael Yaakov Fischer zt”l had an interesting custom as well. If Motzai Shabbos Chanuka fell out in the first half of Chanuka and he was therefore able to prepare the Menorah on Erev Shabbos for Motzai Shabbos (meaning set up the full amount needed for both days in his one Menorah), he would light the Menorah first, as soon as he would arrive home from shul. However, if Motzai Shabbos Chanuka fell out in the second half of Chanuka, and he would need to set up the Menorah on Motzai Shabbos itself, he would first make Havdalah and only then prepare and light his Menorah.[19]

Don’t Mix and Match

The noted Melamed L’Hoyeel, Rav Dovid Tzvi Hoffman zt”l (late 1800s), wrote an interesting responsum,[20] relating a personal anecdote. Apparently, after following the Taz’s approach of making Havdalah first for twenty-five years in his role as the Rav of Berlin, one Motzai Shabbos Chanuka he decided that he was going to follow the Rema’s opinion and light the Menorah first, as it was getting late. As he was about to light, he suddenly remembered that he had uncharacteristically forgotten to say “Attah Chonantanu” in Maariv, and technically had not yet ended Shabbos. He realized that according to the Magen Avraham, he was now required to make Havdalah before lighting the Menorah.[21] He understood that he was receiving a Heavenly sign from Above. Thus, he concluded, as should we all, that although both positions might be officially correct, with many great halachic authorities through the generations to rely upon for whichever opinion one chooses to follow, nonetheless, it is improper for one to change his longstanding Minhag without strong reason.

There is a related story told of Rav Avrohom Pam zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vodaas,[22] who was well known for his sensitivity and concern for others. He originally followed the shitta of the Rema, and on Motzai Shabbos Chanuka would light the Menorah before making Havdalah. One year one of his young children protested, claiming “I don’t care what you do - I’m not lighting my Menorah before Havdalah”. Rav Pam perceived right away what was troubling his son: how can one kindle a fire before properly reciting Havdalah? Wasn’t it still Shabbos? Rav Pam realized that no matter how well he could justify his actions, explaining that one may engage in activities forbidden on Shabbos after reciting the formulaic insert “Attah Chonantanu” in Maariv or “Hamavdil Bein Kodesh l’Chol”, still, he was concerned that his son might come away with a lessened appreciation of the severity of Shabbos desecration. He therefore immediately agreed with his son, saying that “from now on, we will do it your way”, and proceeded to recite Havdalah before kindling the Menorah.

Whether we are contemplating the lights of Chanuka or the Havdalah candle, regardless which we ended up lighting first, let us internalize their message that Hashem’s hashgacha in this world, showing us the triumph of light over darkness, is eternal and everlasting.

Postscript: This final psak of“d’avid k’mar avid, d’avid k’mar avid”, regarding the kindling of Chanuka candles or the Havdalah candle first applies to Ashkenazic practice due to said dispute over the centuries. However, regarding Sefardic practice, it seems to be that they must make Havdalah before lighting the Menorah at home (as opposed to in Shul, which would be the opposite, as explained above, which was the Shulchan Aruch’s actuallypsak), as virtually all Sefardic Poskim, including the Pri Chodosh, Chida, Ben Ish Chai, Kaf Hachaim, Rav Ovadiah Yosef zt”l, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l, and the Yalkut Yosef,[23] ruled this way.


This article was written L'iluy Nishmas the Ohr Somayach Rosh HaYeshiva - Rav Chonoh Menachem Mendel ben R' Yechezkel Shraga and Sima bas Boruch Peretz and l’zechus Shira Yaffa bas Rochel Miriam v’chol yotzei chalatzeha for a yeshua sheleimah teikif u’miyad!



[1] Although in his Beis Yosef (Orach Chaim 681, 1) he merely cites both sides of this debate, between the Abudraham (pg. 201, Seder Hadlakas Ner Chanuka), who advocated making Havdalah first, and the Terumas Hadeshen (60), on the other hand, in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 681, 2), he rules definitively like the Terumas Hadeshen, that one should light Chanuka candles before Havdalah in Shul.



[4] This klal is found throughout Shas, including Brachos (51b), Pesachim (114a), Sukkah (54b & 56a), Megillah (29b), and Zevachim (90b - 91a).




[8] Pri Chodosh (Orach Chaim 681, 1), Chida (Morah B’Etzba 340), Ben Ish Chai (Year 1, Parshas Vayeishev 21), Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (139, 18), and Aruch Hashulchan (Orach Chaim 681, 2). Others who ruled this way include the Tosafos Yom Tov (Malbushei Yom Tov, 2), Chavos Yair (Mekor Chaim, Orach Chaim 681, 1), Derech Hachaim (Dinei Hadlakas Ner Chanuka B’Motza”Sh, 1), Beis David (474), Shulchan Aruch Harav (Hosafos to Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orach Chaim vol. 3, Minhagei Beis HaRav, Chanuka), Matteh Moshe (992), Ma’ohr Vashemesh (Parshas Mikeitz s.v. vayisa), and the Maharshag (Shu”t vol. 2, end 58). The Kaf Hachaim (Orach Chaim 681, 3) implies this way as well.


[10] Briefly in Shu”t Sheilas Ya’avetz (vol. 1, 52), and at length in Mor U’Ketzia (681). There are few other inyanim where the Ya’avetz takes a differing halachic position to his father, the Chacham Tzvi. In fact, regarding smoking on Yom Tov, the Ya’avetz’s biggest proof is his father’s personal actions! See Mor U’Ketziah (Orach Chaim 511 at length), and previous article titled ‘Smoking and Halacha: A Historical Perspective. A better known issue where Rav Yaakov Emden argues on his father is about whether the issur of Mevattel Issur applies by making an item pagum. See Shu”t Chacham Tzvi(101), Shu”t Sheilas Ya’avetz (vol. 2, 131) and Yad Efraim (Y”D 99, 5), who takes the Ya’avetz to task for arguing with his father. An additional interesting, albeit obscure, issue is whether a Golem can count for a minyan. Although the Chacham Tzvi (Shu”t 93) at first remained undecided, the Ya’avetz (Shu”t She’elas Ya’avetz vol. 2, 82) ruled unequivocally that it would not count for a minyan! What is lesser known (and actually unknown to many later authorities, including the Mishnah Berurah) is that posthumously the Chacham Tzvi’s other son Rav Meshulem Ashkenazi (Shu”t Divrei HaRav Meshulem vol. 1, 10 s.v. shayach) printed a later teshuva of his father’s; in it he retracted his position and ruled strictly as well. On this fascinating topic see also Birkei Yosef (Orach Chaim 55, 4 s.v. u'lmai), Ikrei HaDat (Ikrei Dinim Orach Chaim 3, 15), Rav Tzadok HaKohen M’Lublin’s Kuntress Divrei Chalomos (6), Shu”t Yehuda Ya’aleh (vol. 1, 26 s.v. v’da), Mishnah Berurah (55, 4), Chazon Ish (Yoreh Deah 116, 1), and Kaf Hachaim (Orach Chaim 55, 12). This topic was addressed at length in a previous article titled ‘Of Elul, L’Dovid, and Golems’.

[11] The Chazon Ish, Rav Henkin, and Rav Moshe did not actually take an active stand on topic, rather agreeing to the Mishnah Berurah’s conclusion of “d’avid k’mar avid, d’avid k’mar avid”; yet, all personally made Havdalah before lighting the Menorah; see Orchos Rabbeinu (vol. 3, pg. 31, 109; new edition - 5775 vol. 3, pg. 125 - 127, 12 - 15), Ma’aseh Ish (vol. 4, pg. 131), Ezras Torah Luach (Motzai Shabbos Chanuka, Hanhagas HaGrYE”H), Shu”t Gevuros Eliyahu (vol. 1, 166 s.v. Motzai; Rav Henkin holding “yoseir tov lehavdil v’ach”k lehadlik neiros Chanuka”), and Shu”t Videbarta Bam (vol. 1, 186; citing Rav Dovid Feinstein explaining his father, Rav Moshe zt”l’s, personal actions). Yet, both the Shevet Halevi (Shu”t vol. 6, 85) and Rav Ovadia Yosef (Shu”t Yechaveh Daas vol. 1, 75; see also Yalkut Yosef, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 681) each wrote a detailed responsum advocating making Havdalah before lighting Chanuka candles.





[16] As in shul there would be a greater ‘Pirsumei Nissa’ and only one person effectively has to end Shabbos in order to light the shul’s Menorah; therefore the dissenting opinions would not preclude lighting the Menorah before making Havdalah in Shul. Rav Yosef Dov (JB) Soloveitchik (cited in Hararei Kedem vol. 1, 185) gives a fascinating explanation why everyone agrees that in shul Menorah lighting is performed prior to Havdalah. The public Chanuka lighting in shul is chovas hatzibbur, a communal obligation, to publicize the Chanuka miracle. However, generally speaking, once Maariv ends, the congregants are no longer considered a tzibbur, as they already finished their communal obligation for prayer and individually head home. Yet, on Motzai Shabbos, even after the conclusion of the actual prayer of Maariv, they are still considered a tzibbur, until Havdalah is made - as it is considered a communal Havdalah. Hence, on Motzai Shabbos Chanuka, the shul’s communal lighting of the Menorah must take place prior to the communal Havdalah, in order to ensure that they are fulfilling the chovas hatzibbur, while still maintaining tzibbur status.

[17] Mishnah Berurah (681, 3 and Biur Halacha ad loc s.v. Madlikin). The Machatzis Hashekel (Orach Chaim 681, end 1) advocated this approach as well. The Pri Megadim (ad loc. Mishbetzos Zahav 1; also citing his father) and the Chida (Birkei Yosef ad loc. 1), although both personally made Havdalah before lighting the Menorah, nevertheless also wrote that both opinions are perfectly halachically acceptable. See also Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin’sEzras Torah Luach, and in Shu”t Gevuros Eliyahu (ibid.) and Shu”t Videbarta Bam (ibid. citing Rav Dovid Feinstein explaining his father, Rav Moshe zt”l’s, personal actions) who write similarly, that both shittos are valid and every one should follow his own minhag; concluding,however, that they personally feel that it is preferable to make Havdalah first.


[19] Halichos Even Yisrael (Moadim vol. 2, pg. 387, 5).

[20] Shu”t Melamed L’Hoyeel (vol. 1 - Orach Chaim, 122).


[22] This story is cited in the Artscroll biography “Rav Pam” (pg. 141). Thanks are due to Rabbi Yaakov Meyers for pointing out this source.

[23] Pri Chodosh (ibid.), Chida (ibid.), Ben Ish Chai (ibid.), Kaf Hachaim (ibid.), Rav Ovadiah Yosef (Shu”t Yechaveh Daas ibid.), Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (Darchei Halacha glosses to Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139, footnote 27), and the Yalkut Yosef (ibid.). Interestingly, in Rav Yaakov Hillel’s Ahavat Shalom Luach (Chodesh Kislev, footnote 87) it mentions that this issue will be dealt with in the section titled ‘Motzai Shabbos Chanuka’; yet this author has not been able to locate such a section in the actual Luach.



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