Chanukah FAQs

There are various minhogim as to the correct time to light: some light at shkiyah (sunset), others at nacht (nightfall) and still others in between the two. Each person should follow their family minhag.

One who is not able to light on time should try to ensure that they light within a half hour after nacht.

B’dieved, if this is not possible one may light until alos hashachar (dawn).

However, if all members of your household have gone to sleep you should not recite a brocho unless you will light by the window and there are still people passing in the street in which case a brocho may be said.

As you lit after plag haminchah (this time can be found in a luach), it is not necessary to light again as long as you put in enough oil to light for half an hour after nacht.

One is not required to but it is fitting to do so without a brocho. This is especially true if the Menorah went out on erev Shabbos before Shabbos came in. If they went out before Shabbos came in but after you accepted Shabbos, you should ask someone who has not yet accepted Shabbos to light them again for you.

No.

As you will be sleeping at home, that is where you should light.

If possible, you should light on time and then you may leave immediately as it is not necessary to stay by the candles for a prescribed amount of time. Obviously, one should not leave the candles burning in a manner that is unsafe.

If you are not able to light at home and then leave and it is important for you to be there on time, you can light upon your return home. A brocho may be recited as long as people are still traveling in the streets.

As long as you will be at home at nacht (or whenever is your minhag to light), you should light there. If this is not the case, and you will arrive at your destination before the shops have closed in that location, then may light there with a brocho.

No.

If you will be at home in London at the time of hadlokoh, you should light there.

If you will eat melaveh malka at the place you stayed for Shabbos, you should light there and ideally stay a minimum of half an hour after lighting.

There is an established minhag for women to refrain from heavy melocho for a half hour after lighting the Menorah. According to some poskim, cooking and light cleaning are not included in this minhag and one is not obligated to sustain a loss as a result of custom.

Yes

If you have not yet said Hashem’s name at the conclusion of the brocho go back and say al hanisim. If you have, then do not go back. In bentsching you should add in an extra “Ho’rachamon” by beginning: “הרחמן הוא יעשה לנו ניסים כמו שעשה לאבותינו בימים ההם” – and then conclude the rest.

The days of Chanukah are joyous days - yemei simcha - and one should generally not visit a Beis Hakevaros on Chanukah even on a yahrzeit, but should rather do so beforehand. It is permitted to daven at kivrei tzadikim.

On Chanukah you may use oil and wicks left over from a previous day and add them for use in the next day's mitzvah.

After Chanukah, it is customary to burn the leftovers. Some do this immediately and others will leave it to burn with the chometz on erev Pesach. Either way, care should be taken to avoid it getting mixed into food or general lighting fuel.

If burning is not feasible then it should be wrapped in plastic and discarded. One should not pour the oil or wicks directly into the bin as this would be disrespectful to the item used for a mitzvah.