Chanukah - The Number of Candles

Q. On the third night of Chanukah, instead of lighting three candles, I forgot which night it was and I lit four candles. Did I fulfill the mitzvah? Is there a need to light again?

A. Rav Shlomo Kluger (Ha’elef L’cha Shlomo – 380) writes that one certainly fulfilled the mitzvah. He explains that adding on more candles than is necessary does not detract from the mitzvah. As a proof to this idea, he cites the ruling of the Rema (OC 263:1) regarding Shabbos candles. Shulchan Aruch writes that one should light two candles in honor of Shabbos, one to represent the mitzvah of shamor (guarding Shabbos) and one to represent zachor (the mitzvah to remember Shabbos). Still, the Rema writes that one may add additional candles. The Rema explains that although the specific number of candles is significant and reminds us of these two mitzvos of Shabbos, adding on more candles does not detract from the meaning. Rav Shlomo Kluger in his commentary on Shulchan Aruch (Chochmas Shlomo OC 671) writes that one may even light extra candles on Chanukah lechatchila. However, Sefer L’Horos Nosson (2:51) offers several examples to show that at times when Chazal give a number that is representative, it is meant to be exact, and one should not add on. Here too, since the number of candles represents the day of Chanukah, lechatchila, one should certainly light the intended number.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.