Chanukah- Is It Permissible To Move The Lit Menorah?

There is a discussion amongst the Poskim whether one may light the Menorah in one place and then move it to another place. All agree that it is preferable to leave it in the place it was lit. Shulchan Aruch (675:1) clearly writes that the Menorah should not be moved after it was lit, because people will assume that he lit it for his own benefit like a lantern. Based on this, the Ben Ish ruled that a sick person who is bedbound upstairs should not light the Menorah in his bedroom and then have it brought downstairs to his window. Rather he should appoint an agent to light for him downstairs. Chacham Ovadia writes that today the circumstances have changed. It is not such a severe concern that people will think he is using the Menorah for his own benefit, since we use a special Menorah designated for the Mitzvah. Therefore, even if he moved around with it, nobody would assume that he is using it as a lantern. In the olden days, people used regular candles both for the Mitzvah and for illumination, so it was easy to get confused. Therefore, if one moved his Menorah, his Mitzvah is not invalidated. This is also the opinion of the Mishna Berura in Siman 675. In the case of the sick person, Chacham Ovadia would allow him to light in his bedroom and then have it brought downstairs, but he still prefers the option of appointing an agent. It is also preferable not to move the Shabbat and Yom Tov candles after they have been lit. 

By Rabbi Eli Mansour