Hadlakas Neiros 6 – Kabbalas Shabbos Through Hadlakah 2 (Klal 5 Siman 9) Erev Shabbos – S0133

What is Daily Dvar Halacha?

Rav Eliyahu Reingold, Rosh Kollel in the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, spent many years learning in the Telshe Yeshiva and Kollel where he was recognized as one of their foremost talmidim. He taught in the Telshe Mechina before coming to the Yeshiva of Greater Washington. He is a noted Baal Halacha and Baal Mussar, serving as a well-respected posek for the Yeshiva and community. Besides his responsibility in leading the Kollel, he delivers a high level shiur to advanced students, and provides many halacha shiurim throughout the year. His heartfelt weekly mussar shmuess in an inspiration to all.

This podcast is powered for free by Torahcasts.
Start your own forever free Torah podcast today at https://torahcasts.com/sign-up/ and share your Torah with the world.

Hadlakas Neiros 6 - Kabbalas Shabbos Through Hadlakah 2 (Klal 5 Siman 9) Erev Shabbos - S0133

The hadlakas neiros series is sponsored anonymously as a zechus for all those who need shidduchim.

We are continuing in siman 9, discussing the halachos of hadlakas neiros. The Chayei Adam will discuss some points we have already touched upon, but we will review them.

The Chayei Adam writes that on a short Friday, if a woman is running late and wishes to wash up and get ready for Shabbos, she may come to chilul Shabbos. It must be pointed out to her that she should prepare themselves earlier in the day so as to avoid this issue. Nonetheless, if she is running late, she should light the neiros in her weekday clothing rather than getting into an issue of possible chilul Shabbos.
If the husband sees his wife is running late, he should light in her stead. Even if she will be upset, he should still light for her. This is a chiddush, because we learned (S0128) that one of the purposes of Shabbos neiros is shalom bayis, and going against her wishes will produce the opposite. Nonetheless, the temporary disagreement about the fact that he lit is overridden by the other purpose of Shabbos neiros, that the house should have illumination over Shabbos (see more S0128).

The Chayei Adam continues, and writes that if it is a safeik bein hashmashos, it is more correct to sit in the darkness than to light and possibly commit chilul Shabbos. Alternatively, if it is still bein hashmashos, one should ask a non-Jew to light the candles for them. We have learned that amira l’achum is permitted bein hashmashos even on an issur deoraysa for the purpose of a mitzvah. It is important to remember that since they did not have electric lighting, their entire illumination was at stake. Therefore, it is considered a mitzvah purpose and one can even ask a non-Jew directly.

The Chayei Adam concludes that a person with yiras shamayim will take into consideration all of the potential issues beforehand in order to avoid getting into such a situation.

In Bameh Madlikin, the Mishnah tells us that there are certain directives the husband should discuss with his wife before Shabbos: if she has taken off maaser, if they made an eruv techumin, and to light the neiros. Thus, we see that the husband has the responsibility to help and encourage his wife to light on time.

In the parentheses, the Chayei Adam points out that the Rambam brings down the halacha that the husband should instruct his wife to light, but does not mention the questions of whether she has taken maaser or made an eruv. He leaves off unsure as to why he leaves them out.

Summary
A woman should be fully dressed for Shabbos when lighting neiros; however, it is only a hiddur, so it should not come at the expense of lighting too late.
If she is running late, her husband should light in her stead in order to avoid chilul Shabbos. If it is already a safeik bein hashmashos, they can directly ask a non-Jew to light for them. Otherwise, they should sit in the dark and cannot light.