QUESTION: Are there any halachos associated with the leftover wax, oil or wicks from the Shabbos candles? May one throw them in the garbage?

ANSWER: The Magen Avrohom (154:20) writes that leftover wax from Shabbos candles has no kedusha and may be used for any purpose. It is different from Chanukah candles which one cannot benefit from after Chanukah. The difference between them is that even on Chanukah one may not benefit from the Chanukah candles. Therefore, the leftover oil may also not be used. Additionally, Rav Soloveitchik zt"l explained (see Gan Shoshanim siman 41) that there is a mitzvah to burn the leftover Chanukah oil, since the menorah of Chanukah is modeled after the menorah of the Beis Hamikdash, and there was a mitzvah to burn p'sulei ha'mukdashim (holy items of the Beis Hamikdash which become unusable). Therefore, one may certainly not benefit from the leftover oil or wax. However, Shabbos candles are for our use and enjoyment. Therefore, the leftover oil has no kedusha and may be used for any purpose. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa, ch. 43, n. 218) maintained that since the candles have no kedusha, the leftover wax may be thrown in the garbage.

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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.