Chanukah - Pirsumei Nisa

QUESTION: Pirsumei nisa (publicizing the miracle) is an important element of the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah. Is pirsumei nisa relevant only for the Jewish people who celebrate Chanukah, or is the Chanukah miracle universally significant, and pirsumei nisa relates to non-Jews as well?

ANSWER: Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC IV 105:7) assumes pirsumei nisa applies only to Jews, and he notes that this is the opinion of Chemed Moshe and the Mishna Berura (Shaar Ha’Tziyon 672:17). Rav Elyashiv, however, deduces otherwise from the Gemara (Shabbos 21b). The Gemara states that the candles must burn until the tarmudai are no longer in the marketplace. Rashi (s.v. Rigla d’Tarmudai) explains that the tarmudai were gentile wood merchants, who sold firewood to customers in the marketplace until it was dark. It thus appears that one fulfills his obligation to publicize the miracle even if the only people who will see the lights are gentiles. Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt"l would often quote this Rashi and add that in the tefila of Al Ha'nissim we say "u'lecha asisa sheim gadol v'kadosh b'olamecha" (and for Yourself, You have made a great and holy name in Your world). This implies that the purpose of the miracle was to publicize Hashem's name throughout the world, not just for Jews but for non-Jews as well.

All agree that one fulfills the obligation of pirsumei nisa with Jews who are not observant and have no personal interest in the mitzvah of Chanukah (Shevus Yitzchak, Chanukah 4:6).

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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.