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.