Sunday, December 17, 2017

The Order of Lighting the Hanukah Candles



The Order of Lighting the Hanukah Candles

Day: Sunday
Date: December 17, 2017
Parashat: Vayigash
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 675

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As mentioned previously, the hanukiah should be placed in the doorway opposite the mezuzah. On the first night, the candle all the way to the right, furthest from the doorpost is lit first. The following night the new candle, second from right, is lit first, followed by the one from the previous night, from left to right. On all of the following nights the lighting follows the same pattern, first the newest, leftmost one, down to the original candle. In this way the berachot are always said on the newest candle, which is appropriate because each new day was another, more impressive miracle.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at SephardicHalacha.org



Friday, December 15, 2017

One Who Forgot to Say the Beracha on the Hanukah Candles



One Who Forgot to Say the Beracha on the Hanukah Candles

Day: Friday
Date: December 15, 2017
Parashat: Miketz
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 675

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One who forgot to say the beracha of “lehadlik ner Hanukah” before lighting the candles may still say it as long as there is at least one candle that hasn’t yet been lit. Therefore, if on the first night one lit the candle without that beracha, he has lost his opportunity to say it. This is true even if he did not yet light the shamash. On the subsequent nights, if he remembered before all of the candles have been lit, he may say the beracha and light the remaining ones. The other berachot on the candle lighting may be still be said within a half hour of lighting.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at SephardicHalacha.org



One Who Forgot Shehehyanu on the First Night of Hanukah



One Who Forgot Shehehyanu on the First Night of Hanukah

Day: Friday
Date: December 15, 2017
Parashat: Miketz
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 675

Sponsored by Skilled Moving and Storage. Professional and honest movers serving Los Angeles. www.SkilledMoving.com 323-746-3279

One who forgot to say the beracha of shehehyanu before lighting the candles on the first night of Hanukah may say it anytime within a half hour of lighting. If he remembered only after a half hour already passed, he may say it before lighting on the second night. If he forgot again he may say it within a half hour of lighting. If he forgot yet again, he may say it any night he remembers within a half hour of lighting the candles. One who was not home on the first night and had someone else light for him may say shehehyanu when he lights on the second night.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at SephardicHalacha.org



Thursday, December 14, 2017

The Candle Lighting Procedure



The Candle Lighting Procedure

Day: Thursday
Date: December 14, 2017
Parashat: Miketz
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 676

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All of the berachot on the hanukiah are said prior to lighting any of the candles. Even though there are some people who begin lighting immediately after the first beracha and while lighting say the next one (or two on the first night) the proper way is to wait and light after all of the berachot have been said. After saying the berachot, one should be careful until after beginning the lighting not to interrupt with anything not relevant to lighting the candles. Even after lighting the first candle, it is preferable to refrain from talking about anything not relevant to the lighting until all of the candles have been lit. After lighting the first candle, even if there are others still needing to be lit, we immediately being saying “hanerot halalu.”


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at SephardicHalacha.org



Wednesday, December 13, 2017

The Reason We Say Lehadlik Ner Hanukah and Not Shel Hanukah



The Reason We Say Lehadlik Ner Hanukah and Not Shel Hanukah

Day: Wednesday
Date: December 13, 2017
Parashat: Miketz
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 676

Sponsored by Skilled Moving and Storage. Professional and honest movers serving Los Angeles. www.SkilledMoving.com 323-746-3279

As mentioned previously, the correct text of the beracha on the Hanukah candles is “lehadlik ner Hanukah” and not shel Hanukah. This is different than Shabbat and other holidays for which the correct beracha is “lehadlik ner shel Shabbat” or “shel Yom Tov.” One reason given for the difference is to point out that the Hanukah candles are lit only for the mitzvah, and not for use of their light. However, the reason for lighting Shabbat candles is specifically to enjoy their light, which we note in the beracha by effectively saying that these are the candles that we are lighting for the purpose of using on, or enhancing, Shabbat. Furthermore, the entire mitzvah of Hanukah is to light the candles, whereas the Shabbat and holiday candles are one of many mitzvot connected to the day.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at SephardicHalacha.org