Practical Laws for Chanukah and Purim

Choosing a Window for Lighting Chanukah Candles

Question: If someone lights Chanukah candles in a window and has one window that is higher than ten tefachim from the floor and another that is lower than ten tefachim, in which window should he light?

Answer: He should light in the window that is lower than ten tefachim, so that the candles themselves are below ten tefachim.

Sources: Mishnah Berurah 671:27.

Notes: The Aruch HaShulchan maintains that one may light in whichever window he prefers.

Regarding whether one should still use the lower window even when the upper window would create greater publicizing of the miracle (pirsumei nisa), see additional discussions in Doleh U’Mashkeh, Chut Shani on Chanukah, and Ozer Yisrael.

Additional Notes: When lighting in a window, if possible one should place the menorah on the right side of the window. However, if placing it on the left side creates greater pirsumei nisa, one should place it on the left.

The Proper Placement of Chanukah Candles for One Lighting Outside

Question: If someone lights Chanukah candles outside near a doorway facing the public domain, may he place the candles slightly away from the entrance?

Answer: No. The candles should be placed within one tefach of the doorway.

Sources: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 671:7.

At least one candle must be within one tefach of the doorway. If all the candles were placed beyond that distance, one nevertheless fulfills the obligation after the fact, as long as it is recognizable that the candles belong to his home.

Where to Stand While Lighting Chanukah Candles

Question: A person who begins lighting with the newest candle and then proceeds toward the right — on which side of the menorah should he stand?

Answer: He should stand on the left side of the menorah so that he encounters the newest candle first, rather than reaching across the other candles. This follows the principle that one should not “pass over mitzvot.”

Sources: Mishnah Berurah 676:11; Sha’ar HaTziyun 676:19.

Bringing Children to Synagogue for the Megillah Reading

Question: Is it preferable for children to hear the Megillah at home privately or in synagogue with the congregation?

Answer: It is preferable for them to hear it in synagogue because of greater pirsumei nisa. However, every father must supervise his young children carefully to ensure that they listen properly and do not disturb others.

Sources: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 689:6; Mishnah Berurah 689:18.

Very young children who are likely to disturb the congregation should not be brought to synagogue for the Megillah reading.

Reading the Megillah Aloud Together With the Reader

Question: During the Megillah reading on Purim, may a person read aloud together with the ba’al koreh?

Answer: One should not read aloud together with the ba’al koreh, even if reading from a kosher Megillah. Although someone with a kosher Megillah should ideally follow along with the reader, this should be done quietly.

Reason: Someone nearby may focus on the individual’s reading instead of the official reader. However, if the individual intends to fulfill the obligation for anyone listening to him, it is permitted.

The person reading the Megillah must also ensure that he hears his own reading. Some authorities hold that if he does not hear himself, he has not fulfilled the mitzvah even after the fact because hearing is integral to the publicizing of the miracle.

Dozing During the Megillah Reading

Question: If someone dozes off during the Megillah reading, has he fulfilled the obligation?

Answer: If he was listening while dozing, he has not fulfilled the obligation, because he certainly missed some words. However, if he himself was reading the Megillah while dozing, he has fulfilled the obligation.

Definition of Dozing: Someone who can respond when called but cannot formulate a logical answer unless reminded.

If one missed several words of the Megillah that affect the meaning, he must repeat the reading with a blessing if he realized it afterward. If he realizes before the reading ends, he returns to the place he missed and continues without a new blessing.

Giving More Gifts to the Poor

Question: On Purim, is it better to increase mishloach manot or matanot la’evyonim?

Answer: It is preferable to increase gifts to the poor, because there is no greater or more glorious joy than gladdening the hearts of the poor, orphans, and widows.

Sources: Mishnah Berurah 694:3.

Using Maaser Money for Gifts to the Poor

Question: May one use maaser money for matanot la’evyonim?

Answer: The minimum required gifts may not come from maaser funds. However, any additional amount beyond the minimum may be given from maaser money.

Sources: Mishnah Berurah 694:3.

The Proper Time for the Purim Meal

Question: Must most of the Purim meal take place during the daytime?

Answer: Yes. Most of the meal should be during the day, unlike those who begin close to evening and continue mainly into the night.

The Shelah writes that one who holds the Purim meal in the morning is especially praiseworthy.

Those who delay the meal and fail to eat meat and drink wine before sunset neglect the primary mitzvah of the Purim feast, which applies specifically on Purim day itself.

When Purim falls on Friday, the meal should preferably be held before midday in honor of Shabbat.

Praying Ma’ariv During the Purim Meal

Question: If someone continues the Purim meal into the night, may he pray Ma’ariv in the middle of the meal?

Answer: Ideally, he should recite Birkat HaMazon before praying Ma’ariv, because there is a halachic dispute whether one may still say Al HaNissim in Birkat HaMazon after praying Ma’ariv.

Prayer While Intoxicated

Question: May a drunk person pray?

Answer: He should not pray. If he did pray:

• If he is still capable of speaking respectfully before a king, the prayer is valid.

• If he is incapable of speaking before a king, the prayer is considered an abomination and must be repeated.

A person in the latter category who missed the prayer time due to intoxication may be considered negligent and may lose the opportunity for compensatory prayer.

A drunk person who can still speak properly before a king may recite blessings. If he cannot, he should preferably avoid making blessings until sober, although after the fact the blessings remain valid.

The authorities emphasize that on Purim one is not commanded to become disgracefully drunk. The purpose of the joy of Purim is to reach love of God and gratitude for His miracles. Anyone who knows that intoxication will lead him to neglect mitzvot, disrespect blessings, skip prayers, or behave improperly should refrain from becoming intoxicated.