Siman 672 – The time of lighting Chanuka lamps

וChelek 6

36. The Shulchan Aruch states to light at tsais hakochavim. However many rishonim hold to light at about 15 minutes beforehand. The latter opinion is the one you should follow, especially if you usually daaven Maariv at tsais hakochavim. Nevertheless fill the menorah with enough oil to last for half an hour after tsais in order to fulfil the Shulchan Aruch’s opinion. (ShA 1 – MB 1 – BiH “lo m’acharim)

37. If your minhag is to light after Maariv, do not delay. You need to hurry home and light ner Chanuka. Make all of the lighting preparations before Maariv so as not to delay the lighting until after a half hour from tsais hakochavim. (MB 1 – MB 671:46)

38. It is good to be careful to light at this time even these days that we are lighting indoors. (Rama 2)

39. If you will be busy at candle lighting time and you will not have a chance afterwards to light, you can light from plag hamincha with a beracha. (ShA 1 – MB 2, 3)

40. Plag hamincha is calculated as being 1 1/4hours (sha’os z’manios) before tsais hakochavim. (MB 3)

41. When lighting so early, be sure to add enough oil to last until a half hour after tsais hakochavim. (ShA 1)

42. From whenever you light, you may not benefit from the flame until a half hour has passed since tsais hakochavim. (BeH “u’bilvad)

43. After the half hour is over you are allowed to extinguish the flames, but still do not use them or carry the flames from their place – we are worried about what the onlooker will think. (ShA 2 – MB 8 – ShaH 12)

44. Some poskim say that unless you made a condition before filling your menorah (that only a half hour’s worth is set aside for the mitzva) all of the oil is considered set aside for the mitzva. Therefore, l’chatchila you should make a condition. (MB 7)

45. Bedieved, you can still light (with a beracha) until dawn. If you missed the entire night you cannot make it up. The next night, light the same amount of candles as everyone else. (ShA 2 – MB 11)

46. These days that we light indoors and we publicize the miracle for the household members, it is important to gather them around when you light the lamps. (MB 10)

47. If you come home late and everyone is sleeping, wake 2 or 3 of them and light with a beracha. If they are sleeping, there is a doubt if you should say a beracha so light without a beracha. Do not rebuke someone who wants to say a beracha in this situation. (MB 11 – ShaH 17)

48. Once the time to light arrives, you mustn’t get involved with learning, eating or other things. (MB 10)