Brooke Martin
There are differing opinions on whether blowing out Hanukkah candles is considered bad luck. While some believe that it is disrespectful to the holiday and could bring bad luck, others maintain that it is an acceptable practice if done after the candles have burned for at least 30 minutes. Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of a small group of Jewish fighters, the Maccabees, reclaiming the Jewish Temple and finding enough sacred oil to light the menorah for eight days instead of one. The debate surrounding candle-blowing centres around the fulfilment of the mitzvah, or commandment, which some believe is negated by blowing out the candles prematurely. Ultimately, individuals must decide for themselves whether to blow out Hanukkah candles, weighing the varying interpretations of tradition and the potential for fire hazards if left unattended.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum duration for which Hanukkah candles should be lit | 30 minutes |
| Whether Hanukkah candles should be blown out | No definitive answer, it is a matter of personal preference |
| Whether it is considered bad luck to blow out Hanukkah candles | No definitive answer, but many believe it is bad luck to blow out any candles |
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What You'll Learn
There is no definitive answer
Additionally, the act of blowing out the candles can be seen as a sign of respect for the holiday and its traditions. However, it is worth noting that some Jewish legal authorities do not permit extinguishing Hanukkah candles under any circumstances, while others allow it after the minimum burning period has passed. Ultimately, the decision to blow out the candles or not may come down to personal preference and individual circumstances.
The Qabbalah, a Jewish mystical tradition, implores followers never to blow out a candle, which may influence some individuals' decisions. On the other hand, safety considerations, such as preventing fire hazards, may take precedence, especially if one needs to leave the house. In such cases, it is generally advised to allow the candles to burn for at least 30 minutes and then extinguish them safely.
While there may be differing opinions on the matter, it is essential to remember that Hanukkah is a joyous celebration commemorating the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. The lighting of candles is a central commandment of the holiday, and individuals can choose how long they wish to let the candles burn based on their personal beliefs and circumstances.
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Blowing them out shows respect for the holiday
There are differing opinions on whether it is acceptable to blow out Hanukkah candles. Some authorities say that Hanukkah candles should not be extinguished at all, while others say that they may be extinguished after burning for a minimum of 30 minutes. According to Jewish principles, leaving lit candles unattended can pose a fire hazard, and it is important to avoid creating a dangerous situation. Therefore, if one knows they will need to go out, it is advisable to wait and light the candles later.
Blowing out the Hanukkah candles can be seen as a way of showing respect for the holiday and its traditions. While there is no definitive answer, individuals can choose to blow out the candles after they have burned for at least 30 minutes, especially if they need to leave the house. This ensures that the commandment of lighting the candles is fulfilled, while also being mindful of safety concerns.
The debate around blowing out Hanukkah candles stems from the significance of the miracle of the oil in the Jewish Temple. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees, who found only one jar of sacred oil to light the menorah. The oil was expected to last for a single day but miraculously burned for eight days. As such, some people argue that blowing out the Hanukkah candles prematurely negates the mitzvah, or commandment, of lighting the candles.
However, others argue that as long as the candles have burned for the minimum required time, blowing them out is acceptable. The Shulchan Aruch, a halakhic (Jewish legal) text, allows for blowing out Hanukkah candles after 30 minutes. Additionally, considering the practical concerns of leaving lit candles unattended, blowing them out can be a responsible choice.
Ultimately, the decision to blow out Hanukkah candles or not is a matter of personal preference and one's level of comfort with the associated risks. While some may choose to let the candles burn out completely, others may opt to blow them out after ensuring they have fulfilled the minimum burning time. By doing so, individuals can balance their respect for the holiday with practical considerations, creating a safe and meaningful celebration of Hanukkah.
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Some authorities say they can be extinguished after 30 minutes
There are differing opinions on whether it is permissible to blow out Hanukkah candles. Some authorities say that Hanukkah candles may be extinguished after burning for a minimum of 30 minutes. According to Shulchan Aruch, Orach Hayim 672:2, one must place enough oil for 30 minutes of burn time, and if one puts more oil in, one may extinguish the candle after that time has passed. This ruling applies more to those using oil lamps or extra-large Hanukkah candles.
However, other sources suggest that Hanukkah candles should not be extinguished at all and should be allowed to burn out naturally. This is because lighting the candles is the central mitzvah, or commandment, of Hanukkah, celebrating the miracle of the Maccabees finding enough sacred oil to light the Temple's menorah for eight days.
Some people believe that blowing out the candles is a way of showing respect for the holiday and its traditions, while others consider it disrespectful and even bad luck. Ultimately, the decision of whether to blow out Hanukkah candles or not is a matter of personal preference. If one needs to go out after lighting the candles, it is recommended to wait and light them later, or to allow them to burn for at least 30 minutes before extinguishing them.
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They should not be left unattended
While there is no definitive answer to whether it is bad luck to blow out Hanukkah candles, there are a few reasons why they should not be left unattended. Firstly, leaving lit candles unattended can pose a fire hazard, which goes against the Jewish principles of pikuach nefesh (saving a life) and bal tashchit (not causing wanton destruction). According to Jewish legal authorities, creating a dangerous situation should be avoided.
To fulfill the mitzvah, or commandment, of Hanukkah, candles should contain enough fuel to burn for a minimum of 30 minutes. If one needs to go out before this time has passed, it is best to wait and light the candles later, or to light them well past sunset if necessary. Leaving Hanukkah candles unattended for only a few minutes may not have a significant impact on their burn time, but it is still generally discouraged due to safety concerns.
Some sources suggest that if the candles have already been lit, they should be allowed to burn for at least 30 minutes before being extinguished. This is because the mitzvah is considered fulfilled once the candles have burned for this minimum duration. However, it is worth noting that some halakhic (Jewish legal) authorities maintain that Hanukkah candles should not be extinguished at all, and should be allowed to burn out naturally.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to blow out Hanukkah candles or let them burn out on their own is a matter of personal preference and interpretation of Jewish law and tradition. However, due to the potential fire hazard, it is generally advisable to avoid leaving lit candles unattended whenever possible.
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Some authorities say they should not be extinguished at all
The answer to the question of whether it is permissible to blow out Hanukkah candles depends on who you ask. Some authorities say that Hanukkah candles may be extinguished after burning for at least 30 minutes, while others argue that they should not be blown out at all and should be left to burn out naturally.
According to Jewish law, or halakhic, authorities, extinguishing Hanukkah candles is not allowed under any circumstances. This is because the lighting of the candles is considered a central mitzvah, or commandment, of Hanukkah. Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of a small group of Jewish fighters, known as the Maccabees, who reclaimed 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 just one day but miraculously lasted for eight days. Therefore, allowing the Hanukkah candles to burn out naturally honours the miracle of the oil lasting longer than expected.
The Shulchan Aruch, a halakhic text, permits blowing out Hanukkah candles after they have burned for at least 30 minutes. However, some argue that this ruling no longer applies and that the candles should be left to burn until they naturally go out. This is because the Qabbalah, a Jewish mystical tradition, implores followers never to blow out a candle under any circumstances.
Ultimately, the decision to blow out Hanukkah candles or not is a matter of personal preference and interpretation of Jewish law and tradition. Some individuals may choose to blow out the candles after a certain amount of time, such as 30 minutes, while others may prefer to let them burn out completely.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no definitive answer to this question. While some authorities say Hanukkah candles may be blown out after burning for a minimum of 30 minutes, others say they should not be extinguished at all and be allowed to go out naturally. Some people also believe that it is bad luck to blow out any candles, not just Hanukkah candles.
Hanukkah celebrates the miracle that a small band of Jewish fighters, called the Maccabees, reclaimed 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 only a day but ended up lasting eight days. Lighting candles is the central commandment of Hanukkah, but there are differing opinions on whether it is permissible to artificially shorten their burn time.
Blowing out Hanukkah candles may be considered a way of showing respect for the holiday and its traditions. However, some believe that doing so negates the commandment of lighting the candles. Ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference and individual decision.
