A Clinician’s Guide to Chanukkah: Shining a Light on Night Shift
Written by Dr. Mendel Jacobs Reviewed and edited by Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth
Summary
During the time of the Second Beis Hamikdash, the Greeks, who oppressed the Jewish people, were overcome by the Hasmoneans, restoring Jewish sovereignty in Israel for 200 years. We celebrate the significance of this period by remembering a miracle that occurred during the reconquest of the Bies Hamikdash when a small single jar of oil miraculously kept the menorah lit for eight days. Chanukah was later instituted by the sages to celebrate this triumph and rededication of the temple, observed by lighting candles, recounting miracles, and giving charity (Mishnah berura 670:1). For many Jewish clinicians, the festivities of Chanukkah can be difficult to balance with clinical responsibilities. The timing of lighting the Chanukkah menorah and the early halachic nightfall of the winter months often conflict with clinical schedules. This guide addresses common questions and provides practical solutions for those on shift during Hanukkah. We will conclude with some timely holiday reminders.
Introduction
Coming Home From Shift Late
Others Lighting on Your Behalf: Surrogate Lighting
Lighting in the hospital
Electric menorah
Birkat Ha’roeh
Holiday reminders
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Introduction: Candle Lighting Basics
The basic mitzvah of Nerot Chanuka involves lighting one candle per household each night of Chanuka to commemorate the miracle of the oil. Adding extra candles, increasing nightly to match the days of Chanuka, and the custom of each male lighting his own menorah have become common halachic practice. Notwithstanding, Women are equally obligated to light Chanuka candles or have them lit on their behalf (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:16). Traditionally, the male head of the household lights the candles when lighting in a household family context. The ideal time for lighting Chanuka candles is as close to Shkia (halachic sunset), ensuring they burn for at least 30 minutes after Tzeis Hakochavim (halachic night) or according to some the candles should be lit approximately 20 minutes after halachic sunset. Candles should be lit for a minimum of 30 minutes post-lighting, after which, while it is not ideal, the candles may be extinguished (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 672:2). For healthcare workers, for whom patient care may interfere with timing. We will discuss the best way of performing the mitzvah of Nerot Chanuka when one's schedule deviates from this previously described ideal.
Coming Home From Shift Late
As we have discussed, the ideal time to light Nerot Chanuka is at Shkia (zmanim). The Gemara notes that the halachikly acceptable timing extends from Shkia to "until the marketplace empties," a time frame discussed and contested in the primary and later commentaries( see Beit Yosef OC 672:1). Medical professionals, even on the day shift, will often come home much later than Shkia. However, the predominant position in the poskim rule that the mitzvah of Nerot Chanuka was instituted primarily to celebrate for and with one's household members, and as long as one's household is awake, one can still light and say the relevant berachot. The Rama agrees with the extended view of the timing of this ruling, adding that, ideally, one should still burn as close to Shkia as possible. However, one may light until alot HaShachar if family members or household members are present (Shulchan Aruch 672:2 see Mishneh Berura there). If one lives alone, one can still light provided you will stay awake for a half hour.
In a family context, the Poskim discuss whether it is better to wait untill the whole family is together or to have the menorah lit through a surrogate lighter, as will be discussed shortly. The accepted practice is to wait for the father or mother to be present out of respect, provided it will not be so late that there will be no outside foot traffic activity or that some family members will already be asleep, as this would exclude those individuals from being involved in the mitzvah of Nerot Chanuks and the Pirsumei Nisa of the day (Teshuvos Veanhagos 4:170, Rav Asher Weiss).
Others Lighting on Your Behalf: Surrogate Lighting
For married individuals, one's spouse can serve as an agent (shliach) and light on their behalf (Shulchan aruc O.C 677:3), even if one is in a different city, such as during an away rotation. If your spouse is lighting for you, it is ideal to listen to the berachot and see the lit candles of someone else if possible(Mishnah Berura 677:27).
If one is not married, but one's roommate is lighting, one should contribute to the cost of lighting to be involved with the mitzvah. Suppose one is single, and it is not possible to contribute to the menorah lighting; one should appoint a Shliach (messenger) to light in one’s house in your stead. While this is debated according to Reb Moshe and Reb Shlomo Zalman, a shliach may perform the lighting, reciting 'lehadlik ner Chanuka' but not 'shei'asa nisim' or 'shehecheyanu' if they have already fulfilled the mitzvah elsewhere (Minchas Shlomo תניננא נח, Igros Moshe orch chaim 1:190).
Lighting in the hospital
The mitzvah of Nerot Chanuka is described in the Gemara as something that applies to 'ish ubeiso' ("a person and their household" Shabbat 21: b), whereas 'beiso' ( house or household) implies a private space. A call room might be considered such a space. However, issues like fire safety, the need for a 30-minute burn time, and ideally having witnesses for the mitzvah make this option less appropriate than having others light for you as above (Rav Asher Weiss rules that if one is alone, while there is a dispute as to whether you can recite the Brachos, you may rely upon the opinions that permit reciting them.)
Electric menorah
While electric incandescent lights are acceptable for Shabbos candles, according to many Poskim, they are not ideal for Nerot Chanuka. The mitzvah requires lighting a flame, reflecting the practice in the Beis Hamikdash (Shoel Umeishiv, Rav Asher Weiss). However, Rav Chacham Ovadia (Yechaveh Da’at 4:38) suggests that lighting an electric menorah without a Bracha is still preferable to not lighting at all, a view shared by Rav Hershel Shechter.
Birkat Ha’Roeh
If one cannot appoint an agent to light the menorah and will be unable to light themselves, the next best thing to do would be to make a ברכת הרואה, that is to say, say the Bracha of שעשה נסים when seeing kosher lit candles. Saying the bracha in this manner is only done if (a). You could not light yourself or appoint an agent to light on your behalf, (b). Will not otherwise have the chance to light a menorah that night (Shulchan Aruch תרעו:ג.)
Holiday reminders:
Other Chanukkah observances worth remembering. Al Hanisim is said in Shemona Esrei and Birchas Hamazon but not in Al Hamichyah. If it’s forgotten, then they are not repeated ( Mishneh Berura 682:2). The complete Hallel is said every day throughout Chanuka in shachris (Shulchan Aruch 683:1). Unlike other Yomim Tovim, there is no formal requirement to eat a special Seudah, though it is still a mitzvah to eat festively and take part in chanuka celebrations by retelling the stories and the miracles of the time(Kitzur shulchan aruch 139:1).
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Suppose you won't be home at a reasonable hour. In that case, it is better for the menorah to be lit in your absence for your household either by your spouse or, less ideally, though a shliach ( if one's roommate is lighting, one should contribute to the cost of lighting to be involved with the mitzvah). If that is impossible, one can light at home before dawn, provided one wakes up a family member to participate in the Pirsumei Nisa. While not commonly possible, if it is possible to light in a private on-call room already designated for you, that would be preferable, provided you would be with the candles for half an hour, after which one could extinguish them. In that case, it would be ideal if other Jews were present for Pirsumei Nisa. For various reasons, lighting with an electric menorah is not ideal, but if all else fails, one can light an incandescent menorah without a Bracha.
Happy Chanukah!
For Further Exploration:
JPN Podcast
Rabbi Stein Halacha summary
https://app.box.com/s/itxa0a03yco0hhyst9wypyazygxvwgqd
Rav Asher Weiss relevant Teshuvot https://medicalhalacha.org/2021/01/05/frequently-asked-questions-by-doctors-hadlakas-ner-chanuka/
Gray Matter- R Jachter