Chanukah - Haneiros Hallalu

QUESTION: In the piyyut “Haneiros Hallalu” that we recite after lighting the Chanukah candles, we declare that we have no permission to make use of the lights, only to view them. What exactly does this mean?

ANSWER: Shulchan Aruch (OC 673:1) writes that it is forbidden to use the Chanukah candles. The Mishnah Berurah (673:8) gives two explanations as to why this is forbidden. According to Rashi, this is to make it evident that the candles were lit for the mitzvah. If, for example, one were permitted to read by the light of the candles, it would not be apparent that they were lit for the mitzvah. The Ran writes that the mitzvah was modeled after the menorah of the Beis Hamikdash. Just like one may not use the light of the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash since the oil in it is Kodesh, so too Chazal forbade using the lights of the Chanukah menorah. Shulchan Aruch writes that it is even questionable if one may use the Chanukah light to learn Torah. For these reasons, we always add a shamash (accompanying flame) so that we do not derive benefit from the candles lit for the mitzvah. Although there is light added by the other candles that were lit for the mitzvah, one may still read next to the menorah that has a lit shamash. The Mishnah Berurah (Beiur Halacha s.v. v’yeish) writes that after the shamash goes out, even if the candles have already burned for half an hour, one should still not use the lights since they were originally lit for the mitzvah. Rather, if there is a pressing need, such as to use the light for learning Torah, one should blow out the candles and relight them.

___________________________________________________

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.