Oil & Lighting Chanukah Candles
Does it matter if one uses oil or wax candles to light their Chanukiah? Join Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman as he explores the debate.
Oil & Lighting Chanukah Candles: Oil & Lighting Chanukah Candles
As long as I can remember people were asking their rabbis if they may use electric lights for the mitzvah of Chanukkah. They take it for granted that they may use wax candles. People think that electricity is the first great technological leap that Halacha has dealt with.
But about 900 years ago there was another leap in lighting technology and that, believe it or not, was the introduction of wax candles. Yes indeed, many authorities ruled that wax candles may not be used in the performance of mitzvot.
We will learn about this today.
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.