From The Rav’s Desk: 1) When to light if will return home late; 2) Source for the story of Yehudis

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  1. Question: [Tuesday, 29th Kisleiv 5781]

Our family is going to relatives overnight and returning the next evening. We will be arriving past midnight back home and was wondering where we should light the candles, by our relatives before we travel or at home after we arrive?

Answer:

This matter is debated amongst today’s Poskim. In my opinion, it is better for you to light after returning home. You may light with a blessing up until Alos Hashachar so long as there is another family member awake and present together with you for the lighting.

Sources: See M”A 677:7; Taz 677:2; Kneses Hagedola 677; Bach 677; Elya Raba 677:3; M”B 677:12; Kaf Hachaim 677: 17, 21; Minchas Yitzchak 7:48; Chovas Hadar 2 footnote 65; Piskeiy Teshuvos 677:4 footnote 25 and 29-30; Bach 677; Kinyan Torah 5:72; Koveitz Darcheiy Horah; See Shevet Halevi 8:158; See Peri Chadash 677; Biur Halacha 677:1 “Bemikom Sheochel”; Az Nidvaru 7:69

  1. Question: [Monday, 28th Kisleiv 5781]

I would like to know what the source for the story of Yehudis is and as to why it is not mentioned in Megilas Antiochus.

Answer:

The story of Yehudis is mentioned in the Rishonim, including Rashi, the Ran, the Kol Bo, and later on in the Achronim, the Rama 670:2, Beis Yosef, Peri Chadash and Taz 670:2; M”A 670:1. It is not clear as to why it is not mentioned in the official documentation of the Hanukkah story in Megillas Antiochus. A lengthy and detailed Midrash of the story is recorded in the Sefer Chemdas Yamim and Otzer Hamidrashim, although these sources are questioned as to their authenticity and reliability. It is also not clear historically as to when the incident with Yehudis took place with some saying that it took place at a different time in history than the Hanukkah story. However, from all the above Rishonim and Achronim it seems evident that it took place during the Hanukkah miracle, and that seemingly Yehudis was the aunt of the five Maccabee brothers.

Sources: Tosafus Megillah 4a; Kol Bo 44; Ran Perek Bameh Madlikin; Beis Yosef 675; Peri Chadash 671; Chemdas Yamim 2 Chanukah 2; Ben Ish Chaiy Vayeishev 24; Kaf Hachaim 671:17; Otzer Hamidrashim Eizinshtein p. 204

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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