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Ask the Rabbi

Rabbanit Sharon Rimon Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon

CANDLE LIGHTING

ON A PLANE

e’re flying to Israel for considered homes and one can light HaReayah of Rav Kook, Orach Chaim
Chanukah but we’re Chanukah candles in them. But 673, and others). Indeed, most poskim
W leaving a few hours before it appears we can’t apply this to a say one cannot use them, although Rav
sunset and arriving the next day. plane, because the plane is in the air Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichot
We’ll be on a plane all night. How (i.e. can’t stop like a boat or train), and Shlomo 15:3), holds that when there
should we light candles? is also more of a temporary abode. is no other option one can light with a
For example, one thing that defines a flashlight that has a filament.
1. Is there a mitzvah to light candles on home is sleep (see Biur Halacha 677,
a plane? 2. Can one light in the airport? and Chovat Hadar Chanukah 1:12),
3. Does lighting electric bulbs count? and since one doesn’t sleep in normal Practical Halacha
fashion on a plane it is hard to say that Since there is a doubt whether one
Lighting in the house a plane is considered a home. can light in a plane, and another doubt

There is a special law of “one who whether electric bulbs are permitted,
sees” with Chanukah lights, i.e. even Can one light in an airport? one should take a flashlight with a
someone who does not light their own Even the person who lights in shul filament (or an electric Chanukiah) to
candles can make a blessing (ה ָ ׂש ָ ע ֶ ׁש needs to light again in his home fulfil the mitzvah, but should not make
םי ִּ ס ִּנ, and ּּונ ָי ֱ ח ֶ ה ֶ ׁש on the first night) (Rema and Mishna Berura 671:7). a blessing.
upon seeing someone else’s candles This proves that having a home is If other members of the family have
(Shabbat 23a). Tosafot (Sukkah 46a) not enough, but that the person
explains that this law of “one who lighting the candles must have some remained at home, they can light
sees” was only instituted regarding the connection to that home. Thus if a for those on the plane, who are then
Chanukah lights because one needs a person sleeps in a house for one night, exempt from lighting (Shabbat 23a,
‘home’ to fulfil the mitzvah. Shulchan Aruch 677:1). Husband
he can light there. One cannot fulfill and wife can light for each other, but
A homeless person is also obligated the mitzvah in an airport because parents lighting can also include their
to light candles, since the mitzvah is there is no connection between the children (who live with them.) And
incumbent on everyone, but he cannot lighter and this ‘home.’ if the children are lighting in their
fulfill it because he doesn’t have a parents’ home while the parents are
home. Lighting electric bulbs flying, they are considered the parents’
Some later poskim say that the mitzvah Even if it was halachically permissible shlichim.
is to light davka in a home. Therefore, to light in a plane, it is obviously not a The mitzvah of Chanukah is “very well
a person should strive to observe practical option. The only acceptable loved” (Rambam, Hilchot Chanukah
the mitzvah even when not in his solution is through electric bulbs. 4). Am Yisrael do not easily relinquish
own home but in another ‘home’ However, it seems that one actually this mitzvah, wherever they may be.
(Maharsham, Rav Zvi Pesach Frank, needs fire for lighting and not just
Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Rav light. Therefore, fluorescent, PL or
Elyashiv and others.) LED bulbs, none of which have a
filament, are not fire at all, and so are Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Head of
Is a plane considered a home? definitely disqualified. Regarding Mizrachi's Shalhevet Educational
filament bulbs, there are differences Advisory Board, Chairman of the
The Maharsham writes that covered of opinion whether the burning metal Halacha Education Center and Rabbi of
boats or long-distance trains are filament is considered fire (see Mitzvat Machon Lev

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