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Earliest and Latest time to light Chanukah Candles: Difference between revisions

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* Thus, Yalkut Yosef 672:1 writes that one should light at tzet hachochavim which is 15 minutes after sunset. [The time of 15 minutes is built off the Geonim's opinion that 13.5 minutes after sunset is Tzet Hakochavim unlike the tzet hachochavim of Rabbenu Tam, which is 72 minutes after sunset because [[Chanukah]] is only derabanan and one can rely on the Minhag Eretz Yisrael for derabanan mitzvoth (Sh”t Yabia Omer 2:21). Additionally, by not lighting until the Tzet Hakochavim of Rabbenu Tam will lead one to light after the latest time for which one doesn’t fulfill the mitzvah according to many poskim (Sefer [[Chanukah]] of Rav Kanievsky pg 13 note 8).] [http://www.halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDefault.asp?HalachaID=1695 Halacha yomit] writes that the time is extrapolated to each place based on 13.5 minutes Sha'ot Zmaniot.  
* Thus, Yalkut Yosef 672:1 writes that one should light at tzet hachochavim which is 15 minutes after sunset. [The time of 15 minutes is built off the Geonim's opinion that 13.5 minutes after sunset is Tzet Hakochavim unlike the tzet hachochavim of Rabbenu Tam, which is 72 minutes after sunset because [[Chanukah]] is only derabanan and one can rely on the Minhag Eretz Yisrael for derabanan mitzvoth (Sh”t Yabia Omer 2:21). Additionally, by not lighting until the Tzet Hakochavim of Rabbenu Tam will lead one to light after the latest time for which one doesn’t fulfill the mitzvah according to many poskim (Sefer [[Chanukah]] of Rav Kanievsky pg 13 note 8).] [http://www.halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDefault.asp?HalachaID=1695 Halacha yomit] writes that the time is extrapolated to each place based on 13.5 minutes Sha'ot Zmaniot.  
* However Pri [[Chadash]] 672 and Buir HaGra O”C 672:1 (see also Beiur HaGra O"C 261 and Y”D 266:17, and Maaseh Rav 235) hold that one should light at sunset. Mishna Brurah 672:1 quotes both the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch and Gra and then writes that if one davens at Tzet Hakochavim one may follow the opinion of the Gra even initially. See also Sh”t Az Nidabru 7:70. Rav Moshe Feinstein in Igrot Moshe O”C 4:101:6 and Rav Chaim Kanievsky in Yemeh [[Hallel]] VeHodah 12:8, say to light 10 minutes after sunset and have it last for a half hour before tzet hachovim and a half hour after tzet hachoavim. Torat HaMoadim 4:1 rules to light 15 minutes after [[shekiah]] [15 minutes is based on the geonim’s tzet hachochavim (3/4 [[mil]]) with the Rav Amram Goan’s lengh of a [[mil]] being 18 minutes, the fact that in the winter the [[shaot Zmaniot]] are shorter, and we add on a few minutes to be strict for Rabbi Yose’s opinion of Ben Hashemashot which only happens after Rabbi Yehuda’s finishes.]  
* However Pri [[Chadash]] 672 and Buir HaGra O”C 672:1 (see also Beiur HaGra O"C 261 and Y”D 266:17, and Maaseh Rav 235) hold that one should light at sunset. Mishna Brurah 672:1 quotes both the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch and Gra and then writes that if one davens at Tzet Hakochavim one may follow the opinion of the Gra even initially. See also Sh”t Az Nidabru 7:70. Rav Moshe Feinstein in Igrot Moshe O”C 4:101:6 and Rav Chaim Kanievsky in Yemeh [[Hallel]] VeHodah 12:8, say to light 10 minutes after sunset and have it last for a half hour before tzet hachovim and a half hour after tzet hachoavim. Torat HaMoadim 4:1 rules to light 15 minutes after [[shekiah]] [15 minutes is based on the geonim’s tzet hachochavim (3/4 [[mil]]) with the Rav Amram Goan’s lengh of a [[mil]] being 18 minutes, the fact that in the winter the [[shaot Zmaniot]] are shorter, and we add on a few minutes to be strict for Rabbi Yose’s opinion of Ben Hashemashot which only happens after Rabbi Yehuda’s finishes.]  
* Igrot Moshe 4:101:6 writes that one should light 10 minutes after sunset with enough oil to last an hour. Shemaytata DeMoshe 672 explains that Rav Moshe held that 10 minutes was sufficient time to be considered the Tzet Hakochavim of the Geonim and it is still within a half hour of sunset. Az Nidbaru 7:70 quotes Rav Aharon Kotler as having said that one should light 25 minutes after sunset. </ref>
* Igrot Moshe 4:101:6 writes that one should light 10 minutes after sunset with enough oil to last an hour. Shemaytata DeMoshe 672 explains that Rav Moshe held that 10 minutes was sufficient time to be considered the Tzet Hakochavim of the Geonim and it is still within a half hour of sunset. Halachos of Chanukah by Rabbi Eider p. 20 cites Rav Moshe Feinstein's practice was to light between 13 and 18 minutes after shekiya. He cites that Rav Aharon Kotler would light 25 minutes after sunset. Az Nidbaru 7:70 agrees.</ref>
# In general, one should not light earlier than [[Shekiyah]] or Tzet Hakochavim, as stated in the previous halacha, except on [[Friday afternoon]] of [[Chanukah]] because once it becomes [[Shabbat]], it will be forbidden to light.
# In general, one should not light earlier than [[Shekiyah]] or Tzet Hakochavim, as stated in the previous halacha, except on [[Friday afternoon]] of [[Chanukah]] because once it becomes [[Shabbat]], it will be forbidden to light.
# But if on a weeknight one will be unable to light after [[Shekiyah]] or Tzet Hakochavim and will miss the mitzvah totally, he should light after Plag HaMincha. Many poskim say that one may light with a bracha in this case, while others say that one should light without a bracha.<ref> The Rambam ([[Chanukah]] 4:5) and Bahag ([[Chanuka]] p. 25b) hold that one does not fulfill one’s obligation if one lights [[Chanukah]] candles prior to sunset. The Rashba ([[Shabbat]] 21b), however, writes that after the fact, if one lit them before sunset, one still fulfills one’s obligation. This is also the opinion of the Ran, Ritva, and Orchot Chaim ([[Chanukah]] #15). The Mishna Brurah 672:3 (Shaar HaTziyun 672:5) explains that the Shulchan Aruch 672:1 rules like the Rashba and one may light before sunset with a bracha. This is also the opinion of the Pri [[Chadash]] 672:1 s.v. VeYesh Mi SheOmer and Chaye Adam 154:18. Kaf HaChaim 672:10 however, holds that one shouldn’t make a bracha in such a case. See also the Levush, Bach, Kiseh Rachamim 63a, Siddur Bet Ovad 159b, Moed Kol Chai 27:26, Tefilah Ledavid, Pri Megadim M”Z 673:9, Sefer Yeraim 274, Shaarei Kneset HaGedolah 672:1, and Pri Megadim A”A 672:1. </ref> It is preferable to ask someone else to light for you at your house than light yourself before Shekiya after Plag Mincha.<ref>Halachos of Chanukah p. 35 n. 20</ref>
# But if on a weeknight one will be unable to light after [[Shekiyah]] or Tzet Hakochavim and will miss the mitzvah totally, he should light after Plag HaMincha. Many poskim say that one may light with a bracha in this case, while others say that one should light without a bracha.<ref> The Rambam ([[Chanukah]] 4:5) and Bahag ([[Chanuka]] p. 25b) hold that one does not fulfill one’s obligation if one lights [[Chanukah]] candles prior to sunset. The Rashba ([[Shabbat]] 21b), however, writes that after the fact, if one lit them before sunset, one still fulfills one’s obligation. This is also the opinion of the Ran, Ritva, and Orchot Chaim ([[Chanukah]] #15). The Mishna Brurah 672:3 (Shaar HaTziyun 672:5) explains that the Shulchan Aruch 672:1 rules like the Rashba and one may light before sunset with a bracha. This is also the opinion of the Pri [[Chadash]] 672:1 s.v. VeYesh Mi SheOmer and Chaye Adam 154:18. Kaf HaChaim 672:10 however, holds that one shouldn’t make a bracha in such a case. See also the Levush, Bach, Kiseh Rachamim 63a, Siddur Bet Ovad 159b, Moed Kol Chai 27:26, Tefilah Ledavid, Pri Megadim M”Z 673:9, Sefer Yeraim 274, Shaarei Kneset HaGedolah 672:1, and Pri Megadim A”A 672:1. </ref> It is preferable to ask someone else to light for you at your house than light yourself before Shekiya after Plag Mincha.<ref>Halachos of Chanukah p. 35 n. 20</ref>