Question: Which side of the window should one light neiros Chanukah?
Short Answer: Some poskim rule that it should be lit on the left side of the window (from the inside looking out). Others say it does not make a difference.
Explanation:
I. Mezuzah vs. Menorah
The Gemara (Shabbos 22a) rules that (in the time of the Gemara, where the menorah was placed outdoors) the menorah should be placed within a tefach from the opening of the house. The Gemara asks which side of the door should the menorah be placed? Rav Acha answers that it is placed on the right side as you enter the house. Shmuel MiDifti answers that it should be placed on the left side as you enter the house. The Gemara concludes that we follow Shmuel, that the menorah should be placed on the left side as you enter the house, so that the mezuzah is on your right side and the menorah is on your left side as you enter the house.
The Gemara does not explain the opinion of Rav Acha (why the menorah should be on the right side) nor does it explain the significance of having a menorah on the opposite side of the mezuzah.
II. Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 671:7) codifies the Gemara, that the mezuzah should be placed on the left side as you enter the house, so that the mezuzah and menorah are on opposite sides. The Mishnah B’rurah (33) explains that we want to be surrounded by mitzvos. Indeed, Maseches Sofrim (20:3) cites the pasuk in Shir HaShirim (7:7) – “u’mah yafis u’mah na’amt” – “how fair and pleasant you are” – and understands this to refer to the mezuzah on one side and the menorah on the other side. Moreover, the Sh’iltos (VaYishlach 26) elaborates that when a person, wearing his tzitzis, lights the menorah, he is surrounded by a tripartite of mitzvos (“chut ha’meshulash lo bimheirah yinateik”).
The Mishnah B’rurah (33) does rule, however, that you are still yotzei b’dieved the mitzvah if you place the menorah on the right side as you enter (under the mezuzah).
III. Missing Mezuzah
But what about if the doorway does not have a mezuzah for whatever reason? The Shulchan Aruch (ibid), based on the Avi Ezri, rules that in such a case, you should place the menorah on the right side as you enter. The Mishnah B’rurah (34) cites two reasons for such a ruling: (i) because in general we hold that the right side is preferable to perform mitzvos; and (ii) there will be greater pirsumei nisa, as people in general turn to the right side.
The Orchos Chayim of Luniel (Chanukah, Siman 3) personally rules that the menorah should always be lit on the left side as you enter, regardless of whether the right side has a mezuzah or not. However, he offers another reason why some hold that it is placed on the right side when the mezuzah is not there – since the menorah was on the “right side” in “south” of the Beis HaMikdash.
As an aside, the B’Tzeil Chochmah (2:50) queries that this is not true: The menorah was on the left side as you entered the Heichal! He does not answer this query. Rav Yitzchak Yosef shlita (Yalkut Yosef, Chanukah, p. 164) answers that we are talking about the vantage point of the Shechinah, i.e., on the right side looking out of the Heichal. Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita (Kovetz Halachos, Chanukah, p. 154) answers based on a handful of p’sukim that refer to the south as the “right side” – hence, we call the south “teimanah” (right).
IV. Nowadays?
The Rama (ibid) writes that nowadays, where we light indoors and the pirsumei nisa is for the people indoors, there is no need to light by the opening of the door. Nevertheless, the Rama adds that the minhag is that even nowadays we light by the door (indoors). The Mishnah B’rurah (37) explains that this way we at least accomplish the idea of being surrounded by mitzvos.
However, the Mishnah B’rurah (38), based on the Magen Avraham, disagrees. Nowadays, if you have a window facing the public thoroughfare, it is preferable that you light by such window in order to do pirsumei nisa outside, as well. The Igros Moshe (Orach Chayim 4:125) explains that the idea of pirsumei nisa certainly trumps the idea of being surrounded by mitzvos, as pirsumei nisa is fundamental to the mitzvah. The discussion in the Gemara of which side to light on was limited to when there already was pirsumei nisa by the very nature of lighting outside; but nowadays, it is of course more important to light by the window. The reason for lighting in between mitzvos is a “taam kalush” – a weak concept.
Thus, it appears clear that, nowadays, one should light by the window, and not opposite the mezuzah.
V. Which Side?
But, should one light by a particular side of the window? The Netziv (Meishiv Davar 1:42) suggests that the answer is based on the prior machlokes: whether you should place the menorah on the left side as you enter the house even when there is no mezuzah on the right side. According to the Orchos Chayim – who says that the menorah always stays on the left side regardless of whether the reason (surrounded by mitzvos) applies, then even in the window, the menorah gets placed on the left side (looking into the house from the outside). However, according to the Shulchan Aruch, which holds that you place the menorah on the right side as you enter when there is no mezuzah, you should also place the menorah on the right side of the window (looking into the house from the outside).
BiN’sivos B’Halachah (Chanukah, Vol. 33, p. 206) cites Rav Nissim Karelitz who rules that you should light on the right side of the window. The footnotes in the Dirshu edition of the Mishnah B’rurah likewise cite Rav Nissim Karelitz as ruling as such, since one of the reasons of the Mishnah B’rurah applies to a window. In other words, we perform mitzvos on the right and with the right object (i.e., hand/area). Even though the other reason of the Mishnah B’rurah does not apply – that you will turn to the right as you enter the house – the first reason is sufficient. Rav S.Z. Auerbach zt”l (Halichos Shlomo 14:3) likewise rules that you should light in the right side of the window, as we perform mitzvos on the right. See also Gam Ani Odecha (Mishnas Yosef, 48). Notably, this author believes that Rav Karelitz and Rav Auerbach are referring to the right side of the window as you face it from the outside, consistent with this entire article. [But see sefer Pri Bikkurim (p. 46) who understands them a bit differently.]
The sefer Ozer Yisrael (Chanukah, p. 50) cites Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, who ruled that it doesn’t make a difference which side you light when lighting in the window. But see Moadei Grach (p.284). Indeed, the sefer Ben Melech (p. 107) writes that you should specifically light them in the middle of the window, as this is the greatest hiddur. See also M’kadeish Yisrael (siman 48).
Rabbi Ephraim Glatt, Esq. is the Associate Rabbi at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, and he is a Partner at McGrail & Bensinger LLP, specializing in commercial litigation. Questions? Comments? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
