Lighting Chanukah Candles on Friday Afternoon

On Friday of Chanukah, one must light the Chanukah candles before Shabbat candles. The earliest time when one may light the Chanukah candles is the point of "Plag Ha’mincha," which during the Chanukah season is usually around 3:30pm (in the New York City area). Therefore, on Erev Shabbat Chanukah, one must be extra vigilant to complete Shabbat preparations especially early, so that he can light the Chanukah candles before the wife lights the Shabbat candles. It is preferable on Erev Shabbat to recite Mincha earlier in the afternoon, before lighting the Chanukah candles. This is because the afternoon "Tamid" sacrifice – to which the Micnha prayer corresponds – would be offered in the Bet Ha’mikdash before the Menorah was kindled. Accordingly, it is proper, if possible, to pray Micnha on Friday afternoon before lighting the Chanukah candles. Therefore, synagogues should try to arrange a Minyan for Mincha Gedola – meaning, the Mincha prayer recited earlier in the afternoon – for those who are able to recite Mincha earlier. Synagogues should then have another Minyan for Mincha closer to sundown for those who could not pray Mincha earlier, but this Mincha prayer must start earlier enough to allow for the Hanukah candles in the synagogue before the onset of Shabbat. When one lights the Hanukah candles on Friday afternoon, he must ensure to add enough oil, or use long enough candles, to sustain the candles until 45 minutes after sundown, a period of close to one hour fifteen minutes.

By Rabbi Eli Mansour