Thought for the Day: Candles in Halacha -- Shabbos/Yom Tov, Havdala, Chanuka, B'dikas Chameitz, Yahrtzeit
One of the canards that the Reform Jewish Religion is wont to promulgate is that Torah Judaism is -- Heaven Forfend -- misogynistic. Their proof? Well, heck! -- those Torah Jews don't count women in their minyan! Of course, by a similar "reasoning", they would also have to object that my oncologist 25 years ago was misogynistic, because he would never, ever have given a woman the course of treatment he prescribed for me! "Harrumpf!", they would opine! I would note that I had testicular cancer and the treatment plan was irrelevant and, in fact, dangerous for a woman (or anyone who didn't have testicular cancer, for that mattter). "La la la... we can't hear you!", they would twitter and tweet. Which, of course, is why I never try to explain to them about a minyan, either. Sigh...
There is a lesson here, though, even for thinking individuals. Namely, one must always consider the underlying issue being addressed. This is especially important when looking for a substitute when the situation demands it. Take, for example, oh... I don't know... you are in the hospital for Shabbos and open flames are vigorously discouraged. What are your options for Shabbos candles? While we're on that topic, let's go ahead and ask about all the candles we use during the Jewish year: Shabbos/Yom Tov, Havdala, Chanuka, B'dikas Chameitz, and Yahrtzeit. (Ordered by frequency, mostly.)
Shabbos/Yom Tov
The point is to have light during the meal. Three reason are given: שלום בית/domestic tranquility (so you can see to avoid bumping things and each other), עונג/delight (much more fun when you can see your food!), כבוד/respect (it really dresses up a table to have candles on it). A bracha is permitted as long as one of those is fulfilled. Just having the house lights on would not allow you to make a bracha, even though they provide plenty of light. The problem is that you are not in control of the power source and therefore cannot guarantee they will remain lit during the entire meal. A flashlight, though, which has it's own power source is good enough to allow a bracha. Even an LED flashlight is good enough; maybe even better, as it is lower power and rarely (if ever) burns out. If you don't have that option, then just turn off the lights and then back on; you can't make a bracha, but you are doing what you can for honoring Shabbos.
Havdala
The point here is to commemorate that man learned to harness fire, so you really need a fire. In halacha, being heated to incandescence is a fire; so any bulb with a filament is certainly good. I have heard that some poskim also allow fluorescent bulbs where you can see the starter. You also don't need a guaranteed source of power. LED flashlights, however, cannot be used for havdala.
Chanuka
Celebrates the miracle of a small amount of oil burning for a long time. Best, of course, is to use an oil or wax candle. Next, though, is a source of light with at least a guaranteed minimum amount of fuel. Interestingly, as long as the candle is kindled and could burn for 20 or 30 minutes, if something unexpected happens and the light is extinguished, then the miztvah is fulfilled. Since there needs to be a "guaranteed minimum", connected to the power grid won't do. A battery might be ok, but there the "fuel" is really being chemically manufactured every moment, so not clear. Safest to use a real flame.
B'dikas Chameitz
Here you need a defined, narrow light so that you can highlight areas in a darkened room; making small bits of chameitz more noticeable. Cannot be a large flame nor oil light, because then you'll be afraid of ruining your clothes and whatnot and won't do as thorough a job of checking. A candle is quaint, and it's nice to start with one, using a flashlight for the real, detailed searching. I personally use an LED light on a headband. (Which, as you can imagine, the grandchildren all take turns using to check their own room... talk about making a mitzvah fun for them!).
Yahrtzeit
The soul of a person is compared to a candle: נֵר ה', נִשְׁמַת אָדָם/the soul of a person is a candle of HaShem (Mishlei 20:27). The main idea, though, is illumination. Any light will work, though we all like yarhtzeit candles. The Jews of German descent, I am told (by R' Fuerst, whose wife -- apparently -- hails from that community) specifically use an electric light and leave it burning the entire first year after losing a parent. Some people also light a candle for their own souls on Yom Kippur, which is basically a variation on this theme.
There is a lesson here, though, even for thinking individuals. Namely, one must always consider the underlying issue being addressed. This is especially important when looking for a substitute when the situation demands it. Take, for example, oh... I don't know... you are in the hospital for Shabbos and open flames are vigorously discouraged. What are your options for Shabbos candles? While we're on that topic, let's go ahead and ask about all the candles we use during the Jewish year: Shabbos/Yom Tov, Havdala, Chanuka, B'dikas Chameitz, and Yahrtzeit. (Ordered by frequency, mostly.)
Shabbos/Yom Tov
The point is to have light during the meal. Three reason are given: שלום בית/domestic tranquility (so you can see to avoid bumping things and each other), עונג/delight (much more fun when you can see your food!), כבוד/respect (it really dresses up a table to have candles on it). A bracha is permitted as long as one of those is fulfilled. Just having the house lights on would not allow you to make a bracha, even though they provide plenty of light. The problem is that you are not in control of the power source and therefore cannot guarantee they will remain lit during the entire meal. A flashlight, though, which has it's own power source is good enough to allow a bracha. Even an LED flashlight is good enough; maybe even better, as it is lower power and rarely (if ever) burns out. If you don't have that option, then just turn off the lights and then back on; you can't make a bracha, but you are doing what you can for honoring Shabbos.
Havdala
The point here is to commemorate that man learned to harness fire, so you really need a fire. In halacha, being heated to incandescence is a fire; so any bulb with a filament is certainly good. I have heard that some poskim also allow fluorescent bulbs where you can see the starter. You also don't need a guaranteed source of power. LED flashlights, however, cannot be used for havdala.
Chanuka
Celebrates the miracle of a small amount of oil burning for a long time. Best, of course, is to use an oil or wax candle. Next, though, is a source of light with at least a guaranteed minimum amount of fuel. Interestingly, as long as the candle is kindled and could burn for 20 or 30 minutes, if something unexpected happens and the light is extinguished, then the miztvah is fulfilled. Since there needs to be a "guaranteed minimum", connected to the power grid won't do. A battery might be ok, but there the "fuel" is really being chemically manufactured every moment, so not clear. Safest to use a real flame.
B'dikas Chameitz
Here you need a defined, narrow light so that you can highlight areas in a darkened room; making small bits of chameitz more noticeable. Cannot be a large flame nor oil light, because then you'll be afraid of ruining your clothes and whatnot and won't do as thorough a job of checking. A candle is quaint, and it's nice to start with one, using a flashlight for the real, detailed searching. I personally use an LED light on a headband. (Which, as you can imagine, the grandchildren all take turns using to check their own room... talk about making a mitzvah fun for them!).
Yahrtzeit
The soul of a person is compared to a candle: נֵר ה', נִשְׁמַת אָדָם/the soul of a person is a candle of HaShem (Mishlei 20:27). The main idea, though, is illumination. Any light will work, though we all like yarhtzeit candles. The Jews of German descent, I am told (by R' Fuerst, whose wife -- apparently -- hails from that community) specifically use an electric light and leave it burning the entire first year after losing a parent. Some people also light a candle for their own souls on Yom Kippur, which is basically a variation on this theme.
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