Ben Carter
The lighting of candles is the central mitzvah, or commandment, of Hanukkah. The candles are supposed to be lit for a certain amount of time, about half an hour. But what happens if you need to leave the house? Can you blow them out, or do you let them burn? According to the Shulchan Aruch, it is permissible to blow out the candles after 30 minutes. However, some authorities say that Hanukkah candles should not be extinguished at all, and others suggest that you should wave out the flame rather than blowing it out.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum time Chanukah candles should be lit | 30 minutes |
| What to light | Olive oil is preferable, but any type of oil is acceptable. Alternatively, wax candles with a single wick can be used |
| Placement | Ideally, the menorah should be placed outside the doorpost of one's home in public view. In America, most people light indoors, so the placement is based on dorm and safety regulations: outside one's doorway, next to the left side of the door, inside one's room by a window that faces the public view, etc. |
| Height | The menorah should be no lower than 3 tfachim from the floor (approx. 10.5 inches or 27 cm) and no higher than 20 amot from ground level (35.5 ft or 10.8 m). Ideally, it should be about 10 tfachim high (35 inches or 90 cm). |
| Whether to blow out the candles | Opinions vary. Some authorities say it is permissible to blow out the candles after they have burned for a minimum of 30 minutes, while others say they should not be extinguished at all and should be allowed to go out naturally. |
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What You'll Learn
Candles should burn for at least 30 minutes
The lighting of candles is the central commandment of Hanukkah, celebrating the miracle of the Maccabees reclaiming the Jewish Temple. While opinions vary on whether it is permissible to blow out Chanukah candles, most sources agree that they should burn for a minimum of 30 minutes.
The Shulchan Aruch states that it is permissible to blow out Chanukah candles after 30 minutes. However, some commentators argue that this ruling no longer applies and that the candles should be allowed to burn out naturally. According to Jewish principles of pikuach nefesh (saving a life) and bal tashchit (not causing wanton destruction), one should not create a dangerous situation. Therefore, if there is a fire hazard, it is acceptable to blow out the candles after they have burned for at least 30 minutes.
To fulfill the mitzvah, the candles should contain enough fuel (wax or oil) to last for at least 30 minutes. This is considered a beautification of the mitzvah if they burn longer. It is customary to use olive oil, although any type of oil or wax candles with a single wick are also acceptable.
On the first night of Hanukkah, there should be one candle burning. Each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit, so that by the eighth night, all eight candles are burning. This custom is followed by everyone in the household, including men, women, and children.
During the burning of the candles, it is customary for women to refrain from certain activities, such as sewing and laundry. However, cooking is permitted, especially for a Chanukah party. It is also customary to eat milk foods during Chanukah.
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Blowing them out beforehand negates the mitzvah
Blowing out Chanukah candles before they have burned for a minimum of 30 minutes negates the mitzvah. The lighting of the candles is the central mitzvah, or commandment, of Hanukkah. This is because Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the Maccabees, a small band of Jewish fighters who reclaimed the Jewish Temple from Greek usurpers. When the Maccabees rededicated the Temple, they found only one jar of sacred oil to light the menorah, which was expected to burn for one day but miraculously lasted eight. Thus, the lighting of the candles commemorates this miracle.
To fulfill the mitzvah, the candles should contain enough fuel (wax or oil) to burn for at least 30 minutes. While some sources state that it is permissible to blow out the candles after this minimum period, others maintain that the candles should never be blown out and should be allowed to go out naturally. According to the Shulchan Aruch, it is permissible to blow out the candles after 30 minutes, but some commentators argue that this ruling no longer applies.
The preferred course of action is to let the candles burn down completely. If one cannot stay with the candles for more than 30 minutes due to safety concerns or other reasons, it is acceptable to blow them out after the minimum time has passed. However, it is important to note that not all candles last the required time, especially when multiple candles are lit or in the presence of other heat sources. In such cases, one should use extra-long candles to ensure they last for at least 30 minutes.
The minimum obligation is for each household to light one candle every night of Hanukkah, with an additional candle lit each subsequent night. It is customary for everyone in the household, including men, women, and children, to light their own candles. The candles are typically lit after sunset, ideally immediately, and displayed publicly if possible.
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Qabbalah says never blow out a candle
Qabbalah, also known as Kabbalah, is a set of mystical teachings in Judaism. According to this tradition, it is improper to blow out a candle.
The Torah depicts man's soul as a 'breath' from Hashem, or God. The soul is also compared to a flame. Using one's breath to blow out a candle is considered an ironic gesture, using one 'soul' to extinguish another. In the name of Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the 'Steipler'), there is a belief that there is an angel whose name is the same as the sound produced when one blows out a candle with force. Thus, it is improper to make use of the names of holy angels. Many people, therefore, extinguish candles by hand to avoid pronouncing the name of this angel.
The Ben Ish Chai quotes the Arizal, a prominent Kabbalist, as saying that one should not blow out candles, but does not give a reason. Some people interpret this as meaning that it is acceptable to extinguish candles by hand, or by dipping them into wine. Others say that one should not blow out a candle that is intended to burn and give light, but that it is acceptable to blow out birthday candles, as they are intended to be lit and then blown out.
In the context of Chanukah, the central mitzvah, or commandment, is the lighting of candles. This commemorates the miracle of a small band of Jewish fighters, the Maccabees, reclaiming the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and finding only enough sacred oil to light the menorah for one day, which lasted for eight. Thus, on each of the eight nights of Chanukah, candles are lit for at least half an hour.
Some authorities say that Chanukah candles may be extinguished after burning for 30 minutes, while others, including the Shulchan Aruch, say they should not be blown out at all, and should be allowed to go out naturally.
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Shulchan Aruch allows blowing out after 30 minutes
The Shulchan Aruch, a code of Jewish law, states that it is permissible to blow out Chanukah candles after they have burned for at least 30 minutes. This ruling is based on the understanding that the candles should contain enough fuel to burn for a minimum of half an hour to fulfil the mitzvah, or commandment, of the holiday.
However, it is important to note that there are differing opinions on this matter. Some authorities, such as the Mogain Avrohom, Bach, Chayei Odom, and Eliyahu Rabbah, advise against extinguishing the candles under any circumstances. They believe that the leftover oil or wax should not be used for other purposes as it was initially used for a mitzvah.
The Shulchan Aruch's ruling on blowing out Chanukah candles after 30 minutes may not be as applicable in modern times. The original ruling considered that it took approximately half an hour for the streets to quiet down after sunset. Today, this timeframe may not align with people's schedules or the duration of their Chanukah candles.
In situations where one cannot stay with the candles for more than 30 minutes, such as when leaving a hotel or dorm room, blowing out the candles after the minimum time is considered acceptable. This is especially important to prevent fire hazards and is in line with the Jewish principles of pikuach nefesh (saving a life) and bal tashchit (not causing wanton destruction).
When blowing out the candles after 30 minutes, it is worth noting that some sources suggest considering relighting them upon returning or lighting them at one's destination. Additionally, it is important to be mindful of the type of candles used, as not all candles last the required time, especially when multiple candles are lit or when in a place with intense heat.
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It's best to light candles when you can wait for them to burn out
The lighting of candles is the central mitzvah, or commandment, of Hanukkah. This commemorates the miracle of a small band of Jewish fighters, the Maccabees, reclaiming the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Upon rededicating the Temple, the Maccabees found only one jar of sacred oil to light the menorah, which was expected to burn for a day but miraculously lasted eight days. Thus, Hanukkah candles are lit for eight consecutive nights.
There are differing opinions on whether it is permissible to blow out Hanukkah candles. Some authorities state that Hanukkah candles should not be extinguished at all, as this negates the mitzvah. However, others allow for the candles to be blown out after burning for a minimum of 30 minutes. According to the Shulchan Aruch, it is permissible to blow out the candles after 30 minutes, but it is preferable to let them burn down on their own.
To fulfill the mitzvah, the candles should contain enough fuel to burn for at least 30 minutes, and it is considered a beautification of the mitzvah if they burn longer. If you cannot stay with the candles for more than 30 minutes due to safety concerns, it is advised to wait and light the candles later or light them at your destination. Therefore, it is best to light the candles when you have enough time to wait for them to burn out naturally.
The placement of the menorah is also important. In Israel, it is customary to light the menorah outdoors in a special box that prevents the flames from blowing out. In Yeshivot and Seminaries, students often place their menorahs in dining room windows facing the street or public thoroughfare. The height of the menorah should be approximately 27 cm to 90 cm from the floor. It is customary to have an additional candle, the shamash, used to light the other candles and for its light. The shamash should be placed separately from the Hanukkah candles.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on who you ask. Some authorities say that it is permissible to blow out Chanukah candles after they have burned for a minimum of 30 minutes. However, others say that they should not be extinguished at all and should be left to go out naturally.
The central mitzvah, or commandment, of Chanukah is the lighting of candles. This commemorates the miracle of the Maccabees finding only one jar of sacred oil to light the Temple's menorah for one day, which ended up lasting eight. Therefore, it is considered preferable to allow the candles to burn out naturally.
If you are unable to stay with the candles for more than 30 minutes due to safety concerns, it is permissible to blow them out. According to Jewish principles, one should not create a dangerous situation, and leaving unattended lit candles can be a fire hazard.
If you know you will need to go out, it is best to wait and light the candles later. If the candles have already been lit, they should be allowed to burn for a minimum of 30 minutes before being extinguished.
