Rabbi's Sermons

Based on the work of Rabbi Dovid Brofsky

The Underlying Values

1. Pirsumei Nisa — Publicizing the miracle remains the core purpose
2. Chovat Bayit — The household connection gives the mitzva its context
3. Minhag Avoteinu — Our ancestors' practices carry weight, even when circumstances change

Part 1: The Talmudic Framework  The Core Text: Shabbat 21b

מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחָהּ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ מִבַּחוּץ. אִם הָיָה דָּר בַּעֲלִיָּה — מַנִּיחָהּ בְּחַלּוֹן הַסְּמוּכָה לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וּבִשְׁעַת הַסַּכָּנָה — מַנִּיחָהּ עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ, וְדַיּוֹ.

"The mitzva is to place the Chanukah lights at the entrance to one's house, outside. If one lives in a loft, one should place them in a window adjacent to the public thoroughfare. And in times of danger, one should place them on one's table, and that suffices."

Three Scenarios, One Principle

The Gemara presents three situations in descending order of preference:

The Rashi-Tosafot Debate

The Question: If your house opens into a courtyard (not directly to the street), where do you light?

Rashi's View (Shabbat 21b, s.v. מִבַּחוּץ):

מִבַּחוּץ — מִשּׁוּם פִּרְסוּמֵי נִיסָּא. "Outside — because of publicizing the miracle."

Rashi explains that the lights should be placed at the entrance of the house in order to publicize the miracle. According to Rashi, even when the house's entrance faces outward into a courtyard—and the lights aren't visible to passersby in the reshut ha-rabim—one should still light at the entrance to one's house, rather than the entrance to the courtyard.

This interpretation reflects an intrinsic relationship between the hadlaka and the home. The Rambam (Hilkhot Megilla ve-Chanuka 4:1) formulates this connection explicitly:

כַּמָּה נֵרוֹת הוּא מַדְלִיק בַּחֲנֻכָּה? מִצְוָתָהּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּל בַּיִת וָבַיִת מַדְלִיק נֵר אֶחָד...

How many candles does one light on Chanukah? The mitzva is that each and every house should light one candle..."

This reflects the concept of chovat bayit—an obligation upon the household itself.

Tosafot's View (s.v. מִצְוָה): Tosafot disagree, explaining that the Gemara speaks of a case where the entrance to the house faces the reshut ha-rabim. However, had the entrance faced the courtyard, then one should light at the entrance to the courtyard, facing the reshut ha-rabim. Since the purpose of hadlakat neirot is ultimately to publicize the miracle, it stands to reason that one should light as close to the reshut ha-rabim as possible.

The Ruling: The Rif, Rambam, and Rosh cite the Gemara's comments verbatim, implying agreement with Rashi. However, the Shulchan Arukh (671:5) rules in accordance with Tosafot—prioritize public visibility.

Question for the group:

Rashi seems to prioritize the connection between the candles and your home, while Tosafot prioritizes public visibility. Which value resonates more with your understanding of Chanukah? Is the miracle primarily about what happened in the Temple (a "house" of God), or about publicizing God's intervention to the world?

Follow-up: How might this debate reflect different understandings of what we're commemorating?

Part 2: Why We Light Indoors in the Diaspora

Historical Development

The Gemara's "times of danger" (sha'at ha-sakanah) clause became the basis for a widespread Diaspora custom. Multiple explanations appear in the Rishonim:

1. Specific persecution — Rashi mentions edicts against lighting near pagan temples
2. General hostility — The Ritva (21b) references conditions "like in France" (כְּגוֹן בְּצָרְפַת)
3. Weather conditions — The Ritva extends this leniency to areas of inclement weather

The Custom Becomes Entrenched

The Or Zarua (323) already questions why people don't light outside. The Shibolei Ha-Leket (185) offers a striking explanation:

מִשֶּׁנָּהֲגוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַדְלִיק בִּפְנִים מִפְּנֵי הַסַּכָּנָה, נִשְׁאַר הַמִּנְהָג אַף בִּזְמַן שָׁלוֹם.

"Once the Jewish people became accustomed to lighting inside because of danger, the custom remained even in times of peace."

North American Practice Today

The Levush (671:8), Chayei Adam (154:12), and Arukh Ha-Shulchan (671:24) all acknowledge the near-universal Diaspora practice of lighting indoors, attributing it to living among non-Jews and winter weather conditions—especially relevant in northern climates!

Rav Moshe Feinstein (Iggerot Moshe O.C. 4:125) rules that those who light indoors should ideally light by a window facing the street:

וּלְעִנְיַן הֲלָכָה, הָעִיקָר לְהַגְדִּיל פִּרְסוּמֵי נִיסָּא, וְלָכֵן הִדְלַקְתִּי בְּחַלּוֹנִי הַנִּרְאֶה לָרַבִּים.

"Regarding the halakha, the main principle is to maximize pirsumei nisa, and therefore I lit at my window which was visible to the public."

The Israeli Contrast

In Israel, especially Jerusalem, the custom since the students of the Vilna Gaon arrived has been to light outdoors in glass boxes. The Shu"t Har Tzevi (O.C. 2:114) of Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank records that this was the custom of the Jerusalemites of his time. This represents a conscious "return" to the ideal practice in a Jewish-majority environment.

🗣️ Discussion Section 2

Questions for the group:

1. Given that most North American Jewish communities are safe and established, should we reconsider lighting outdoors? What factors would influence your decision?
2. Some suggest that in an era of rising antisemitism, the "danger" rationale has renewed relevance. Others argue that visible Jewish practice is itself an important statement. How do you weigh these considerations?
3. For those with houses: Have you ever considered lighting outside in a glass box? What stopped you or encouraged you?

Part 3: Modern Applications

Placement and Position

The Gemara (Shabbat 22a) specifies exactly where at the entrance one should place the candles:

אָמַר רַבָּה: נֵר חֲנֻכָּה — מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחָהּ בְּטֶפַח הַסָּמוּךְ לַפֶּתַח. וְהֵיכָא מַנַּח לֵיהּ? אָמַר רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא: מִיָּמִין. רַב שְׁמוּאֵל מִדִּפְתִּי אָמַר: מִשְּׂמֹאל. וְהִלְכְתָא: מִשְּׂמֹאל, כְּדֵי שֶׁתְּהֵא נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִשְּׂמֹאל וּמְזוּזָה מִיָּמִין.

"Rabba said: The Chanukah lamp should be placed within the tefach (handbreadth) nearest the door. And where is it placed? Rav Acha son of Rava said: On the right side. Rav Shmuel of Difti said: On the left side. And the halakha is: on the left, so that the Chanukah lamp shall be on the left and the mezuza on the right."

The Shulchan Arukh (671:7) rules accordingly: light within a handbreadth of the left side of the doorway, with the mezuza on the right and the ner Chanuka on the left. When there is no mezuza, one should light on the right side.

Apartment Buildings

Four possible locations:

1. Window facing the street
2. Anywhere inside (on a table)
3. Outside the apartment door, in the hallway
4. At the building entrance

The Key Question: Is the stairwell/hallway the modern equivalent of a chatzer (courtyard)?

Chazon Ish (O.C. 65:52): No. Modern hallways are external to one's living space, unlike ancient courtyards where daily activities occurred. Therefore, light at your apartment entrance or window, not the building entrance.

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach: Yes, one may light at the building entrance or at a path facing the street.

Practical Guidance: The guiding principle should be maximizing pirsumei nisa. Consider where your candles will actually be seen.

Height Requirements

The Gemara (Shabbat 22a) discusses both optimal and maximum heights:

אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא, דָּרֵשׁ רַב נָתָן בַּר מִנְיוֹמִי מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב תַּנְחוּם: נֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁהִנִּיחָהּ לְמַעְלָה מֵעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה — פְּסוּלָה.

"Rav Kahana said: Rav Natan bar Minyomi expounded in the name of Rav Tanchum: If a Chanukah lamp is placed above twenty cubits from the ground, it is invalid."

High-Rise Apartments: If your window is above 20 amot from ground level, some authorities (Sha'ar Ha-Tziyun 671:42) recommend lighting at your doorway instead. Others permit window lighting if the window faces adjacent buildings or if household members can see the candles.

Practical Summary for North American Homes

Single-Family House:

• Preferred: Window facing the street, or doorway with glass door/sidelights
• Alternative: Inside, near the front entrance
• Mehadrin option: Outside in a glass box (weather permitting)

Apartment/Condo:

• Preferred: Window facing the street (if below 20 amot)
• Alternative: Near your apartment's front door
• If hallway has significant foot traffic: Outside your door can achieve pirsumei nisa

🗣️ Discussion Section 3

1. You live in a high-rise apartment on the 15th floor. Your window faces a busy street, but you're clearly above 20 amot. However, the building across the street has apartments at your level. Where do you light?
2. Your house has a front door that opens onto a covered porch. The porch opens to the sidewalk. According to Rashi, where would you light? According to Tosafot? What would you actually do?
3. You're spending the first night of Chanukah at a hotel. Where do you light? Does it matter if you have a window facing the street vs. an interior room?

Conclusion & Practical Takeaways

For Our Community

While the ideal remains lighting outdoors at one's entrance, the North American practice of lighting indoors—preferably at a window facing the street—is well-grounded in halakha. The key is intentionality: wherever you light, do so with awareness that you are publicizing the miracle of Chanukah.

This year, consider:

• Positioning your chanukiyah where it will be most visible
• If you have a picture window or glass door, taking advantage of it

Explaining to children why we place the candles where we do