| Day: Wednesday
Date: December 17, 2014
Parshat: Miketz
Yalkut Yosef: 673
It is forbidden to use the menorah's light for any personal use unless it is for a mitzvah. Even for a mitzvah one may only use the light for a momentary use -not for more. For example, one may not count coins with the menorah's light or use it to learn, but he may use the it to find a match with which to light the rest of the candles or to look up a Halacha. Therefore the custom is to light an extra candle, called a shamash, so that if one does use the light it'll be from that candle and not from the others. The shamash is lit after all the others and should be placed a little higher or lower than the others. If one cannot put it at a different height he should at least separate it a bit so it's obvious that it's not part of the candles being used for the mitzvah. The candles need to stay lit for a half hour. (See DSH from Dec 15, 2014). After a half hour has passed one may use the light for any reason. If there is a blackout one does not need to close his eyes so a not to use the menorah's light, even within the first half hour.
The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.orgr |
No comments:
Post a Comment