An electric menorah might be an acceptable substitute, but the vast majority of Jews prefer wax candles or oil lamps. Show By Lighting the menorah is the core ritual of the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah. The most common method of doing so involves wax candles, though some prefer to use oil lamps, since that was the method used in kindling the menorah in the ancient Temple. But what about electric menorahs: Are they OK to use instead? There is no question that using oil candles is preferred. Since the purpose of lighting the menorah is to publicize the miracle in which a jar of oil sufficient to burn for one day actually burned for eight in the ancient Temple, lighting a flame in a similar manner is considered ideal. This is why some people prefer to use oil menorahs instead of wax candles, which are more similar to the ancient practice. And it’s why of all the oils that could be used, olive oil is preferred among those, because that was the oil used in the Temple. But that’s about preference. Can you use an electric menorah if you want or need? On first glance, it would seem so. The Shulchan Aruch, the premier medieval code of Jewish law, specifies that kindling the Hanukkah lights is essential to the mitzvah. One could argue that an electric menorah is certainly a type of kindling — particularly if it contains an incandescent bulb that emits light by heating a filament until it glows. Such lights are considered a type of burning — this is the reason most Jewish law authorities prohibit using them on Shabbat, when burning a fire is forbidden — so using them for electric menorahs would seem to suffice for kindling the Hanukkah flame. From the perspective of Jewish law, LED and fluorescent lights, which work by running electricity through gas or a diode, are more problematic. The Shulchan Aruch is also clear that “all oils and wicks are fit for use for the Hanukkah lights.” The specification of oils and wicks would seem to preclude alternative methods of illumination, but since oils and wicks were the way people illuminated everything when the Shulchan Aruch was written, some authorities reason that the text was really saying any form of illumination will do. Finally, the rabbis of the Talmud stipulated that a central purpose of lighting a Hanukkah menorah is pirsumei nisa — publicizing the miracle of the holiday. Some rabbis have suggested that using incandescent lights wouldn’t suffice for this purpose since people might confuse them with regular lighting. But if one is using an electric menorah built for this purpose, and the menorah is placed in a window or other publicly visible spot as is customary, it would seem that an electric menorah surely does the job of publicizing the miracle. But the vast majority of Jews nevertheless use candles or oil, and in the Orthodox community electric menorahs are virtually unheard of. There are a number of reasons for this. Some are technical: For example, the Shulchan Aruch states that one is supposed to have all the fuel required to burn the menorah flame for the necessary amount of time (generally understood to be 30 minutes) present at the time of kindling. Since no fuel is present at all with electric lighting — the electricity is generated on demand and continues indefinitely — some authorities conclude that an electric menorah does not fulfill the mitzvah of lighting Hanukkah candles, though in theory a battery-powered menorah would not run afoul of this problem. But the main concern is one of feeling. The differences between electric lights and the miracle Hannukah commemorates are too vast. Electric lights have no wicks, no flames, no fuel, and do not constitute fire in a real sense. For many Jews, flicking a switch on an electric candelabra just isn’t the same. For these reasons and others, wax candles or oil flames are the norm, though some synagogues may light an electric menorah as a symbolic gesture — not as a substitute. A tiny number of Orthodox authorities have suggested that incandescent bulbs might minimally fulfill the requirement of lighting the menorah, especially if no traditional menorahs are available or if there is a genuine safety concern, but this is not a common practice. If there is a concern for safety, or if no oil or wax lights can be secured, most rabbis would say it’s better to light an electric menorah than none at all — though some would advise not to recite a blessing. In hospitals, office buildings, nursing homes and other such settings, electric menorahs are a common sight during Hanukkah and serve to publicize the miracle just as effectively as a fire menorah would — and arguably better, as the light never extinguishes. Join Our NewsletterEmpower your Jewish discovery, daily While the custom is to fulfill the mitzvahmitzvahמִצְוָהLiterally, “commandment." A sacred obligation. Jewish tradition says the
Torah contains 613 mitzvot Mitzvot refer to both religious and ethical obligations. of Hanukkah by lighting a hanukkiyahhanukkiyahחֲנֻכִּיָּהNine-branched candelabra used during Hanukkah – eight branches for each night of the holiday, plus another branch (often
taller, central, or more prominently displayed) for the shamash (helper) candle, which is used to light the others. with either candles or oil, some people, citing safety concerns and convenience, choose to also use electric lights. Lighting the Hanukkah lights with a real flame remains preferable for several reasons. Using oil or candles fulfills the mitzvah of Hanukkah as understood by our spiritual ancestors and connects us to those ancestors.
For many people, the flickering lights of real flames feels more evocative. In the modern period, when we most often use electricity for light, using candles for Shabbat and holidays elevates and distinguishes those sacred times. Because the lights burn for a finite period – customarily around 40 minutes – that period often becomes a special time each night of Hanukkah, when work and chores are temporarily set aside, and friends and family members enjoy each other’s company, exchange
gifts, and share holiday foods like latkes, sufganiyotsufganiyotסֻפְגָּנִית"Jelly doughnuts;" traditionally eaten in Israel during Hanukkah; singular: sufganiyah. , bimuelos (fried dough puffs), keftes de prasas
(leek patties), and other types of Hanukkah cuisine. In settings where open flames are not permitted, including hospitals, nursing homes, and dorm rooms, an electric menorah is an excellent substitute. Using an electric menorah allows residents to symbolically fulfill the mitzvah of Hanukkah. Both an electric menorah and a hanukkiyah with unlit candles are good choices for holiday displays
in communal settings, where displays are up for days, if not weeks, and where unattended flames would be unsafe. One of the teachings of Hanukkah is to “publicize the miracle,”, which has been understood by our sages as displaying the Hanukkah lights where they can be seen by others, such as in the front window or doorway of the home. What is prohibited during Hanukkah?These days are called Hanukkah, when it is forbidden to lament or to fast, just as it is on the days of Purim. Lighting the lamps during the eight days of Hanukkah is a religious duty imposed by the sages.
Can you use an electric menorah?Whatever your reason is, you're in luck: Flame-free electric menorahs provide a practical alternative to the traditional ones, and they look just as beautiful. It's easier than ever to have a menorah for everyone in the family to light up, thanks to all the innovations being made in this space.
What do you light during Hanukkah?Lighting the Hanukkah menorah commemorates this miracle. Step 1: Know Your Timing You're supposed to light the menorah just after dark each night of Hanukkah. (However, many families wait until everyone is home together, and light it then.) On Fridays, the menorah is lit before dark to avoid lighting on Shabbat.
Can you leave a menorah out all year?“People leave [the menorah] out all year round; they don't just take it out during Hanukkah,” Ms. Sternberg observed, adding, “A menorah lasts forever. That's why people like to invest in a nice menorah.”
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Can you use electricity on Hanukkah?
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