Category: Hilchos Chanukah

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?

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

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

Clarify the difference between Tosfos and Rambam

Questions:

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

We learnt a machlokes between Tosfos and the Rambam to the level of Mehadrin min Hamehadrin

See תוס’ “והמהדרין

See רמב”ם ה’ חנוכה פרק ד הלכה א-ב

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

If someone started lighting the menorah and realized after he lit the first candle can he still recite the Brachos?

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

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

Learn תוס’ “והמהדרין

Learn רמב”ם ה’ חנוכה פרק ד הלכה א-ב

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 

See פרי חדש ס’ תרע”ב 

See בית יוסף ס’  תרע”ב  בשם אורחת חיים  

See שו”ת רע”א תניינא ס’ י”ג