Chanukah - Candle Lighting Time

QUESTION: When is the optimal time to light Chanukah candles?

ANSWER: The Talmud (Shabbos 21a) relates that Chanukah candles should be lit when the sun disappears from view, and should remain lit for half an hour. This is codified in the Shulchan Aruch (OC 672:1). However, it is unclear what the sun disappearing from view means.

According to some Poskim, it is when nightfall commences, tzeis hakochavim, i.e., the sky is almost completely dark and three stars can be discerned (Magen Avraham ibid. 1; Bach OC 662; Mordechai).

 According to others, it is when the sky is relatively dark, i.e. about fifteen minutes before nightfall (Ran, Rashba, Meiri).

 According to the Vilna Gaon (Beiur HaGra OC 672:2), the proper time to light is at sunset. Beiur Halachah (672, s.v. velo makdimim) notes that this follows Rambam’s opinion (ibid.) as well.

(To be continued…)

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