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category:  Jewish Law

Where to light Shabbat candles

The Rav Name: Rabbis of the Da’at Institute
  • Question

If I sleep at home alone but go to siblings for dinner and candlelighting, do I need to
light candles where I sleep?

  • Answer
Shabbos Candles
Shabbos candles can be lighten either where one eats or in one’s home, in a situation where one will be eating out at a house where Shabbos candles are anyways being lit there is preference to light in ones own home where no candles at all have been lit in honor of Shabbos.
yet in such a situation where one is lighting in his home and not eating next to the candles it is incumbent on him to make sure that he enjoys the Shabbos candles either by staying around and not leaving right after they are lit or by lighting candles that will light long enough that one can enjoy them late Friday night as well.

Chanuka candles
regarding Chanukah candles the mitzvah is to light in ones home (although some halachic authorities allow one to light when he is eating out at that location that can only be followed in a shaas hadochak in a despair situation) as the primary halacha is that one is to light the candles in his home (ner ish ybeiso).

Sources

Shabbat candles may be lit either where one eats the Shabbat meal, or in one’s home. In a situation where one will be eating at a home where Shabbat candles will be lit in any case, then it is preferable to light in one’s own home, where no candles have been lit at all in honor of Shabbat. However, in such a situation, where one lights in his/her home but does not eat the Shabbat meal near the candles, one should either stay for a while near the candles after lighting them, or light candles that last long enough for him/her to enjoy their light when returning in the evening.


In the case of Chanukah candles, the mitzvah is performed specifically by lighting in one’s own home. Although some Halachic authorities allow one to light at the place he eats the evening meal, this option should only be followed in a case of great necessity.