Where to Light When Eating in Shul?
If one is eating the Friday night seuda in shul, where should they light Shabbos candles – in their home or in shul?
The mitzvah of hadlakas neiros is a way of both honoring Shabbos and enjoying Shabbos (כבוד ועונג).[1] Tosfos[2] writes that the candles should be lit in the dining area to maximize עונג שבת. The Rema[3] writes that the candles in the dining area are primary and the bracha should be said upon lighting those candles. In fact, some individuals have the practice to light candles on the Shabbos table to benefit from their light.[4] While under normal circumstances one lights where they are eating, the Mishnah Berurah[5] indicates that one should light where they are sleeping even if they are eating in another location. The Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa[6] is explicit that it is best to light candles in one’s home. This appears to be due to fact that there is strong correlation between Shabbos candles and Chanukah candles, where the notion of נר איש וביתו defines the mitzvah and thereby the candles are to be lit in one’s home even if they are eating elsewhere. However, other poskim disagree. Sefer Orchos Shabbos[7] writes that one has a choice and can light either in their home or where they are eating. Other poskim say that when eating at family or friends the candles should be lit in the place that one eats but otherwise one should light at home[8]. My father, shlit”a, is of the opinion that one should light in their home even if the meal is at close family or friends and certainly when eating in shul.
Assuming that one does light candles in their home, there is another hurdle to overcome. The Shulchan Aruch[9] writes that if one does not derive any benefit from the candles, the bracha is considered לבטלה. The Mishnah Berurah[10] points out that when one lights in the home but eats outside the home one must be sure that the candles remain lit until they return home to benefit from the candles. One can overcome this problem by turning on the electric lights as well לכבוד שבת, as one will certainly benefit from that light upon returning home.[11] In fact, some poskim believe that in general it is best to turn on the lights לכבוד שבת because those lights are what illuminate the home and not the candles.[12]
[1] Rambam Shabbos 5:1, 30:5, Teshuvos Beis Halevi 1:11, Chidushei R’ Chaim Halevi Shabbos 23b.
[2] Shabbos 25b d.h. Hadlakas
[3] 263:10
[4] See however, Kaf Hachaim 68, Teshuvos V’Hanhagos 1:272.
[5] 263:29
[6] 45:8
[7] Volume 4, 33:143
[8] See Koveitz Halachos 7:65.
[9] 263:9
[10] 41
[11] Whether one can fulfill the mitzvah of Shabbos candles with electric light is a matter of debate. Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa 43 footnote 22 cites from the Rogatchover Gaon who felt that one shouldn’t make a bracha on electricity because להדליק is not an appropriate term when “lighting” an electric light. R’ Shlomo Zalman distinguished between battery powered lights and electric lights. A bracha can be said when the energy source is available such as a battery at the time of lighting as opposed to a standard electric light or lamp.
[12] See Shulchan Aruch 263:8, Shemiras Shabbos 43:34.