The Obligation of Women in lighting the Chanukah Menorah

Question:

What is the obligation of Women in lighting the Menorah?

Discussion:

The Halacha is that women are obligated in lighting the menorah just as men are. The reason for this is that they too benefited by the nais (675:3). However, the accepted custom is that once a woman is married she fulfills her obligation with the lighting of her husband. The reason for this is because of the concept of “Ishto K’gufo” (M.B. 675:9). If a woman would want to light her own menorah then she would be able to, she should just have in mind not to be included in the lighting that her husband is doing.

One question that comes up is if a woman has an obligation to light the menorah as well and today the custom is that every member of the house lights for himself, why don’t unmarried women light their own menorah? One answer that is given is that in the times of the Gemara when the candles where lit outside near the public street the unmarried women would not go out to light as this was not modest. Therefore, the custom became that women do not light the menorah for themselves but rather join in with the father (Chasam Sofer Tra. Shabbos).

Another answer that is given is it is disrespectful for the daughter to light a menorah if her mother is not lighting one. According to this reason if a person is a widow and has daughters at home, they should all light their own menorahs (Mishmeres Shalom).

Summary:

Women are obligated in lighting the menorah just as men are since they also benefited from the nais. However, the accepted custom is that a married woman fulfills her obligation with her husband. A single girl would fulfill her obligation with her father as well.       

Using An Electric Menorah

Question:

Can I use an electric Menorah on Chanukah to fulfill my obligation?

Discussion:

The short answer is no but we will discuss why this is true. The Bais Yitzchak (Y.D. 120) says that since we use electric lights all the time it is not “persumei nesa” Publicizing the miracle. This reason is hard to understand because in the times of the Gemara they also used candles regularly. Another reason that is given is all the fuel has to be present at the time of lighting (675:5). When using electricity, the fuel is constantly being delivered from the power plant. According to this reason if one had a battery powered light he would be permitted to use it.

An additional reason given is that the fuel source has to have the characteristic of oil, which is fatty. Obviously, electricity does not have this quality so one would not be allowed to light with it (Levushei Moredechai vol. 3:59). Furthermore, we know that the best thing to light with is olive oil, so it certainly is not the preferred method to use electricity.

However, if one is in a situation where he will not be able to light a flame, he may be permitted to light an electric light but would not make the bracha on it. If one knows he is going to be in such a situation, (i.e. he will be in the hospital or will be travelling through the night) then a Rav should be asked as to what to do.  

Summary:

One does not fulfill the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah if he uses an electric fuel source. There are various reasons given as to why this is true. If one knows that he will be unable to light a flame one night of Chanukah a Rav should be consulted as to what to do.