Tyler Brooks
The topic of whether or not it is permissible to blow out Hanukkah candles is a matter of debate among Jewish authorities. Some sources state that Hanukkah candles should not be blown out and should be left to burn out naturally, while others state that they can be blown out after burning for a minimum of 30 minutes. The debate centres around the interpretation of Jewish law and the potential fire hazard of leaving lit candles unattended. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to blow out Hanukkah candles may depend on individual circumstances and the advice of a rabbi.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum time Hanukkah candles should be lit for | 30 minutes |
| Whether Hanukkah candles can be blown out | Opinions vary; some say candles should not be blown out, while others say they can be blown out after 30 minutes |
| Whether Hanukkah candles can be extinguished in any other way | They can be waved out |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Hanukkah candles should burn for a minimum of 30 minutes
The lighting of candles is the central commandment, or mitzvah, of Hanukkah. This is because the festival celebrates a miracle: when the Maccabees reclaimed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, they found only enough sacred oil to light the menorah for a day, but it ended up burning for eight. As such, Hanukkah candles are lit for eight consecutive nights.
There is some debate about whether it is permissible to blow out Hanukkah candles. Some authorities say that the candles may be extinguished after burning for a minimum of 30 minutes. This is the course of action suggested by the Shulchan Aruch, Judaism's premier law code. However, others say that the candles should not be blown out at all, and should be left to go out naturally. This is because the Qabbalah implores Jews never to blow out a candle.
If you know you will need to go out, it is best to wait and light your candles later. However, if the candles have already been lit, they should be allowed to burn for a minimum of 30 minutes before being extinguished. To fulfill the mitzvah, the candles should contain enough fuel (wax or oil) to last for this amount of time. It is customary for women not to work for at least the first half-hour of the candles' burning.
In practice, most Hanukkah candles do not burn for much longer than 30 minutes anyway. The ruling to blow them out after this time, therefore, applies more to those lighting oil lamps or using extra-large candles.
Ear Candling: License or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Some sources say you can blow them out after 30 minutes
There are differing opinions on whether it is permissible to blow out Hanukkah candles. Some sources say that Hanukkah candles should not be blown out at all and should be left to go out naturally. However, other sources suggest that it is permissible to blow them out after they have burned for a minimum of 30 minutes.
The Code of Jewish Law, or Shulchan Aruch, states that it is permissible to blow out Hanukkah candles after 30 minutes. This ruling is supported by Rabbi Rothstein, who mentions that the candles should be lit for at least 30 minutes, and if there is a fire hazard, one can blow them out after this time. However, some halakhic (Jewish legal) authorities do not agree with this ruling and maintain that Hanukkah candles should not be extinguished under any circumstances.
The debate surrounding blowing out Hanukkah candles stems from the significance of the mitzvah, or commandment, of lighting the candles during Hanukkah. Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of the Maccabees finding only one jar of sacred oil to light the menorah in the reclaimed Jewish Temple, which ended up lasting eight days. Thus, allowing the candles to burn out naturally is seen as a way to honour the miracle and fulfil the mitzvah.
However, from a practical perspective, leaving lit candles unattended can pose a fire hazard. In such cases, it is recommended to wait and light the candles later or to light them in a communal area. If the candles have already been lit, it is suggested to let them burn for at least 30 minutes before extinguishing them.
While there are differing opinions on the permissibility of blowing out Hanukkah candles, the preferred course of action is to let the candles burn down on their own. This allows individuals to fulfil the mitzvah and commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah while also being mindful of fire safety considerations.
Nest Candles: American-Made or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Others say they should not be blown out at all
There are differing opinions on whether Hanukkah candles should be blown out or not. Some sources state that the candles should not be blown out at all. This is because the central commandment, or mitzvah, of Hanukkah is the act of lighting the candles, which celebrates the miracle of the Maccabees reclaiming the Jewish Temple. The candles are meant to burn for at least 30 minutes, and blowing them out before this time negates the mitzvah.
The Qabbalah, a collection of mystical Jewish teachings, implores followers to never blow out a candle. Additionally, some halakhic (Jewish legal) authorities do not permit the extinguishing of Hanukkah candles under any circumstances.
However, there are exceptions to these rules. For example, if there is a fire hazard, some sources say it is permissible to blow out the candles after they have burned for at least 30 minutes. This is in line with the Jewish principles of pikuach nefesh (saving a life) and bal tashchit (not causing wanton destruction).
If one is unable to stay with the candles for at least 30 minutes due to safety concerns, it is recommended to wait and light the candles later or to light them in a communal area. It is also suggested to use tea lights, which are sturdier and less likely to tip over.
Overall, while there may be some flexibility in certain situations, the preferred course of action is to let the Hanukkah candles burn down on their own without blowing them out.
Candles: Self-Extinguishing or Human Intervention?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Blowing them out before 30 minutes negates the mitzvah
The central commandment, or mitzvah, of Hanukkah is the lighting of candles. This is because Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of a small group of Jewish fighters, the Maccabees, reclaiming the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem 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 for eight. As such, Hanukkah candles are lit for eight consecutive nights.
There are differing opinions on whether it is permissible to blow out Hanukkah candles before they have burned out naturally. Some sources state that blowing out the candles before they have burned for a minimum of 30 minutes negates the mitzvah. This is because the candles should contain enough fuel (wax or oil) to last for at least half an hour, and it is considered a beautification of the mitzvah if they burn longer. According to the Code of Jewish Law (The Shulchan Aruch), it is permissible to blow out the candles after 30 minutes, but some commentators argue that this ruling no longer applies or that the period should be longer.
However, there are circumstances in which blowing out the candles before 30 minutes may be necessary, such as when there is a fire hazard. In such cases, it is recommended to wave out the candles instead of blowing them out, as per the principle of Nahalat Avot. Additionally, it is worth noting that most Hanukkah candles today do not burn much longer than 30 minutes anyway, so the ruling on extinguishing them after 30 minutes primarily applies to those using oil lamps or extra-large candles.
Overall, while there may be some flexibility in certain situations, it is generally advisable to avoid blowing out Hanukkah candles before they have burned for at least 30 minutes to ensure the fulfillment of the mitzvah.
Doji Candles: Predicting Market Sentiment
You may want to see also
Explore related products
If you need to leave, it's best to light them later
If you need to leave home after lighting the Hanukkah candles, it is best to light them later. Leaving unattended lit candles can be a fire hazard, and according to the Jewish principles of pikuach nefesh (saving a life) and bal tashchit (not causing wanton destruction), one should not create a dangerous situation.
The central commandment, or mitzvah, of Hanukkah is the lighting of candles. This commemorates the miracle of the Maccabees, who reclaimed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem from Greek usurpers. They found only one jar of sacred oil to light the menorah, which was expected to burn for one day but lasted for eight. Thus, Hanukkah candles are lit for eight consecutive nights.
To fulfill the mitzvah, the candles should contain enough fuel to burn for a minimum of 30 minutes. However, some sources state that the candles should not be extinguished at all and should be left to go out naturally. The Code of Jewish Law (The Shulchan Aruch) states that it is permissible to blow out the candles after 30 minutes, but some argue that this ruling no longer applies.
If you need to leave before the candles have burned for 30 minutes, it is best to wait and light them later. Hanukkah candles can be lit well past sunset if necessary. Alternatively, you can allow them to burn for at least 30 minutes and then blow them out, although this is not the preferred course of action.
Shabbat Candles: A Bird Hazard?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It depends on who you ask. Some authorities say Hanukkah candles may be blown out after burning for a minimum of 30 minutes, while others say they should not be blown out at all and should be allowed to go out naturally.
The Qabbalah implores Jews to never blow out a candle. Lighting candles is also the central mitzvah, or commandment, of Hanukkah, celebrating the miracle of the Maccabees finding only one jar of sacred oil that lasted eight days instead of one when they reclaimed the Jewish Temple.
If you know you'll need to leave home, it's best to wait and light your candles later. However, if they have already been lit, you can blow them out after they have burned for at least 30 minutes.
