Category: Gemara

Topic: Bracha on the lighting of the additional candles that are added each night of Chanukah 

Questions: 

On the 7th night of Chanukah person mistakenly thought it was the 6th night and lit only six candles. Afterwards he realized it is the 7th night. When he lights an additional candle does he make a bracha?

See בית יוסף ס’ תרע”ב בשם אורחת חיים

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14268&st=&pgnum=602

See פרי חדש סוף ס’ תרע”ב “נשאלתי  

From the Pri Chodosh it seems clear one does not recite a bracha on hidur mitzvah

See מגן אברהם ס’ תרנ”א ס”ק כ”ה who quotes the Rambam that if one did not have in mind to light additional candles then one must make a bracha upon lighting the additional candle.

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14327&st=&pgnum=399

How could one recite bracha on hidur mitzvah? 

If he only realized after the six candles went out should he make a bracha on lighting the seventh candle? 

See שו”ת רע”א תניינא ס’ י”ג

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1162&st=&pgnum=10

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1162&st=&pgnum=11

Why does the שולחן ארוך או”ח ס’ תרע”א סע’ ב bring the halacha of amount of candles to light each night only in accordance with the Mehadrin min Hamehadrin and not list the base halacha that only one candle is required to be lit in each home for each night of Chanukah?  

Is the obligation of Mehadrin min Hamehadrin based on Hidur mitzvah or a different concept?

See רש”י שבת דף כא: “והמהדרין  (two dots) and תוס’ “והמהדרין 

https://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=2&daf=21b&format=pdf

Clarify the difference between Rashi & Tosfos 

See רמב”ם ה’ חנוכה פרק ד הלכה א-ב

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14278&st=&pgnum=374

What is the reason for the Mehadrin min Hamehadrin according to the Rambam?

How could one be obligated to light according to the Mehadrin min Hamehadrin and one has to spend  over 400% more to purchase 36 candles than the base obligation of eight candles?

Why isn’t adding candles considered a violation of baal tosif? If one would add extra mezuzahs on his door post for the amount of people in the house that would definitely be a violation of baal tosif.

We find the concept of Hidur in regards to enhancing a mitzvah. Ie. Purchasing a nicer Sukkah , talis,  … Where do we find the concept of Hidur that requires one to add additional mitzvahs? 

Learn גמרא שבת דף כא: “ת”ר מצות חנוכה (two dots) until “אמר רבה”

https://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=2&daf=21b&format=pdf

Learn תוס’ “והמהדרין

Learn רמב”ם ה’ חנוכה פרק ד הלכה א-ב

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14278&st=&pgnum=374

Clarify the difference between Tosfos and Rambam

Questions:

What is the reason to light extra candles – Mehadrin and Mehadrin min Hamehadrin?

If someone forgot to add an extra candle for that night of chanukah and only realised later that evening 

Should he light an additional candle?

Should he make a bracha when lighting that candle?

Should he light it even if the other candles have already gone out?

See מגן אברהם ס’ תרנ”א ס”ק כ”ה

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14327&st=&pgnum=399

See פרי חדש ס’ תרע”ב 

See בית יוסף ס’  תרע”ב  בשם אורחת חיים

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14268&st=&pgnum=602

See שו”ת רע”א תניינא ס’ י”ג

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1162&st=&pgnum=10

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1162&st=&pgnum=11

https://www.sefaria.org/Ritva_on_Sukkah.46b.1?vhe=Chiddushei_HaRashba,_Sheva_Shitot,_Warsaw,_1883.&lang=bi

Very quickly review גמרא דף מו: “מיד תינוקות (two dots, six lines from top of the Amud) until “א”ר זירא” 

We discussed how the Ran answered the following questions 

Questions:

1. Why are Daled Minim לא חזי בין השמשות?

Ran – one would not shake the Daled Minim during Bein Hashmashos between the seventh and eighth day of Sukkos as starting from day two they are a Mitzvah Drabanan and the rule is ספק דרבנן לקולא

2. Why according to ר’ יוחנן are Daled Minim  Muktzah the entire seventh day?

Ran – The mind frame of a person is to designate them for the entire seventh day as the mitzvah can be performed any time of the day. 

3. Does the Muktzah status of the Daled Minim of the seventh day extend into Bein Hashmashos? Why or why not? 

Ran – no as one would not take the Daled Minim during Bein Hashmashos as explained above. 

(See ריטב”א דף מו: א”ר יוחנן (first explanation) for a more elaborate explanation of the gemara according to the reasoning of the Ran.  https://www.sefaria.org/Ritva_on_Sukkah.46b.1?vhe=Chiddushei_HaRashba,_Sheva_Shitot,_Warsaw,_1883.&lang=bi

Learn תוספת דף י: “עד until “ומהאי טעמא” and skip to “וכל הני לא דמי until “ומאן דאסר who gives an entirely different approach to the Gemara different than the Ran.

https://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=7&daf=10b&format=pdf

How does Tosfos answer the three questions above?

On what points does the Ran argue with Tosfos? 

What is a נפקא מינה between Tosfos and the Ran? 

Continue learning the Gemara from “ולוי” until “א”ר זירא לא ליקני “

Question:

Why does לוי hold that the Daled Minim are Muktzah the entire eighth day as well? 

See רש”י דף מו: “אתרוג אפילו בשמיני

Learn תוספת דף י: “עד starting from “ומאן דאסר (twelve lines before the wide lines of Tosfos) until ומיהו (last word before the wide lines)

Learn ריטב”א דף מו: “לוי who gives three possible explanations 

https://www.sefaria.org/Ritva_on_Sukkah.46b.1?vhe=Chiddushei_HaRashba,_Sheva_Shitot,_Warsaw,_1883.&lang=bi

Very quickly review גמרא דף מו: “מיד תינוקות (two dots, six lines from top of the Amud) until “א”ר זירא” 

Questions:

1. Why are Daled Minim לא חזי בין השמשות?

2. Why according to ר’ יוחנן are Daled Minim  Muktzah the entire seventh day?

3. Does the Muktzah status of the Daled Minim of the seventh day extend into Bein Hashmashos? Why or why not? 

Learn ר”ן דף מו: “אמר ר’ יוחנן who addresses all of the above questions. 

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14319&st=&pgnum=627

See ריטב”א דף מו: א”ר יוחנן (first explanation) for a more elaborate explanation of the gemara according to the reasoning of the Ran.  

https://www.sefaria.org/Ritva_on_Sukkah.46b.1?vhe=Chiddushei_HaRashba,_Sheva_Shitot,_Warsaw,_1883.&lang=bi

On what point does רש”י דף מו: “אתרוג לא חזי differ with the Ran?

How does that impact the way Rashi will answer the other questions?

See גמרא דף י. “סיככה כהלכתה (three lines from bottom of the Amud) until top of דף י: דלמא מן הצד 

Learn תוספת דף י: “עד until “ומהאי טעמא” and skip to “וכל הני לא דמי until “ומאן דאסר who gives an entirely different approach to the Gemara different than the Ran.

https://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=7&daf=10b&format=pdf

How does Tosfos answer the three questions above?

On what points does the Ran argue with Tosfos? 

What is a נפקא מינה between Tosfos and the Ran? 

Question:

Why does לוי hold that the Daled Minim are Muktzah the entire eighth day as well? 

Learn תוספת דף י:עד starting from “ומאן דאסר (twelve lines before the wide lines of Tosfos) until ומיהו (last word before the wide lines)

Learn ריטב”א דף מו: “לוי who gives three possible explanations 

See ריטב”א דף מו: א”ר יוחנן for a lengthy explanation of the Gemara.