When it comes to lighting the Menorah, there are several common scenarios that can cause confusion. I’d like to discuss some of these situations.
Where to Light When Attending a Chanukah Party
Often, one attends a Chanukah party at which the host lights the Menorah. The correct thing for the individual guests at the party to do would be to light the Menorah at home, preferably at the correct time (50 minutes after sunset in the US) and then go to the party. If they have to leave earlier, then they should light at home with a bracha when they get back, as long as it isn’t too late – there are still people outside. If it will be too late then they should light the Menorah right before they leave the house, and make sure they will last until 80 minutes after sunset.
Someone Who Lives In an Apartment Building
A little background is necessary. Ideally the Menorah should be placed outside on the street for maximum Pirsuma Nisa (publication of the miracle). This is still done in Israel, but outside of Israel the minhag is to place the Menorah indoors. The Rema explains that the proper place indoors is by the door opposite the Mezuzah so that one is surrounded by Mitzvos. However, the Magen Avrohom and others say that if one has a window that faces a public thoroughfare one should place the Menorah in the window.
The upper height limit for placement of the Menorah outside or in the window is usually 20 amos or 35 ½ feet high. This is because that is the highest the eye naturally sees. Therefore if the window of the apartment is less than 35½ feet from ground level and opens to the street, he should place his Menorah in the window. If however he lives on a higher floor, then it gets a little complicated. Rav Moshe Feinstein and the Shevet Halevi say that if there is another building ‘across the way’ that can see your window then you should light in the window because you have Pirsuma Nisa for them. Rav Moshe Shternbuch and Rav Elyashiv argue and say that the concept of Pirsuma Nisa is only applicable for the general populace in the street, not for the guy across the street.
So, according to the latter opinion, or in a case where there is no mile high neighbors who would be able to see into your window, then we go back to the Rema and should light by the door. There is however a catch – the Magen Avraham explains that the Rema isn’t telling us that the minhag is to light by the door, he’s telling us the minhag should be to light by the door. Rav Moshe Feinstein explains that the idea being surrounded by mitzvos at the door alone is not a strong reasoning. When one was lighting by the door anyway because he was lighting outside, then we say that he should place the Menorah opposite the Mezuzah. If however he wasn’t lighting outside then the Minhag never was to light by an interior door to be surrounded by Mitzvos. The Rema is telling us that those who are careful in Mitzvos should do so, but it’s not the Minhag.
The upshot is, if you have a window that opens to the street and is lower than 35 ½ feet, or if you have a neighboring building with apartments at your level, you should put your Menorah in the window. If you are otherwise situated, perhaps you should light by the door according to the Rema, but the prevalent Minhag is to lght in the window anyway.
What if you are a college student living in the dorms? The rules prohibit open flames in the residence halls. The Hillel has arranged a spot to light in the lobby of the Hillel building, where the kosher meal plan is situated, so we fulfill the requirement to light in the place where we eat, but what if my rabbis were insistent on lighting in the place where we sleep? Should I buy a glass walled aquarium for $40 (which will hurt my student budget) and light outside the residence hall for the 30 minutes and wait there or may I light in the Hillel? If I light at the Hillel, there is the potential to have many chanukiot lit at once. Wouldn’t that be an issue of a large fire and not the Hanukah lights?
According to Rav Aharon Kotler dorm-dwellers may light where they eat, so lighting in the room you eat in at the Hillel would work. Rav Moshe Feinstein would have preferred you light outside your dorm room. So if your Rabbi’s are insistent they are probably paskening like Rav Moshe. It is a segula for good kids!!
I live at the -3 level of a villa. My door and my windows are on the back side of the house and can’t be seen by anyone unless someone comes to visit me. I’ve put my hanukia in my window because it is the best place for me to view it. (I did have a visitor the other day who admired it.) I could put it on my upstairs neighbor’s mirpeset if this is a better way to fulfill the mitzvah. What is your opinion?
Dvorah,
You definitely should light in your house not your neighbors. The only question is the window or near the door. Rav Moshe Feinstein would say the window is always better, others say by the door. I would say if you can see it better by the window do it there.
Alternatively, you can light outside by the entrance from the street.
One more note – if you live alone you should make sure to light at the proper time in order to be able to make the blessings according to most authorities.