Leftover oil and wicks: What should one do with it?[1]

The leftover oil of the 8^th day’s Chanukah lighting is [forbidden in benefit and is thus] to be burnt on its own, if the candle extinguished prior to burning for a half hour [past nightfall].[2] [This law applies likewise for the leftover oils of the other nights, if the candle extinguished prior to the passing of a half hour after nightfall[3], although regarding the oil of the other nights, one may reuse the leftover oil for the lighting of the next night. However, regarding the oil of the 8^th night, the leftover oil must be burned on its own due to it being the last night of Chanukah, and that it has no future use.[4]]

Oil that remains after it was lit for a half hour:[5] If the candle contains more than 30 minutes worth of oil, then the first thirty minutes of oil [lit past nightfall[6]] is considered designated for the Mitzvah, while the oil that remains after these thirty minutes does not contain any Mitzvah status, and may be even initially used for any purpose. [Thus, if the candle extinguished prior to remaining lit for a half hour after nightfall, then it is forbidden in benefit until it is lit for the remainder of the half hour.[7] However, some Poskim[8] rule that all the oil is designated for the Mitzvah, and it thus may not be used for any other purpose. According to all, if one stipulated on his oil that only the oil which burns for the first half hour is designated for the Mitzvah, then the remaining oil may be used for other matters.[9] Practically, it is initially best to suspect for the latter opinion and stipulate upon placing in the oil, that all oil that remains past a half hour is not sanctified for the Mitzvah.[10] If one explicitly placed more than a half hour worth of oil for the sake of the Mitzvah, then all the leftover oil must be burnt on its own after Chanukah.[11]]

What should one do with the leftover wicks of the Menorah:[12] The leftover wicks of the Menorah are likewise to be burnt.

If the leftover oil mixed with other oil:[13] If the leftover Mitzvah[14] oil became mixed with other oil, it is nullified in 60x. If the mixture does not contain 60x then the entire mixture is forbidden in benefit and is required to be burnt on its own. Some Poskim[15] rule one may not add more oil to the mixture in order to nullify it in 60x.[16] [Other Poskim[17] however rule that if one has more oil, he may add it to the mixture until it is nullified in 60x. Practically, we rule stringently in this matter.[18]] [The above case refers to oil that became mixed with other oil. However, if the actual candle that was used for the Chanukah lighting became mixed with other candles, then it is not nullified even in 1000x, as explained in A.]

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[1] 677:4

[2] Michaber ibid as explained in M”B 677:18 that “Hatzarich Leshiur Hadlaka” means that there was enough oil to last 30 minutes and it extinguished before that time; So also explains Levush; Kaf Hachaim 677:26

The reason: As the oil of the half hour of burning as designated for its Mitzvah. [Michaber ibid] Now, although we rule that all Tashmishei Mitzvah may be used for mundane matters after the Mitzvah is complete [see Admur 21:1 and 42:6] nevertheless, here, it is forbidden being that one intended for all this oil to be used up, and it is hence considered designated for the Mitzvah, similar to Hekdesh. [See Ramban Shabbos 21b]

[3] M”A 673:8; Elya Raba 673:11; Peri Chadash 673; Kneses Hagedola 673:8; Mahariy Bruno 51; Kaf Hachaim 673:47

[4] Tur; Levush; M”B 677:17; Kaf Hachaim 677:26

[5] Michaber ibid as explained in M”A 677:10 and M”B 677:18; Kaf Hachaim 677:26-27; See also Michaber 672:2

[6] See Biur Halacha 671:1 “Ubilvad”

[7] Michaber 677:4; M”A 673:8; Elya Raba 673:11; Peri Chadash 673; Kneses Hagedola 673:8; Mahariy Bruno 51; Kaf Hachaim 673:47

[8] Mahariy brought in Beis Yosef 677; Bach and Tzeida Laderech, brought in M”A 672:4; 677:10; Peri Chadash 677; brought in M”B ibid; Kaf Hachaim 677:26

[9] M”B 677:18; Poskim in next footnote

[10] M”A 677:10; Elya Raba 672:2; Chayeh Adam; Poskim brought in M”B 677:18; 672:7; Kaf Hachaim 672:21

[11] Levush; Kaf Hachaim 677:26

[12] Kitzur SHU”A 139:20; Tur; Beis Yosef; See Kaf Hachaim 677:26 in name of Levush

[13] Michaber 677:4

[14] This refers to the oil that remains when a candle extinguished prior to a half hour after nightfall, whether of the 8^th night, or of any other night of Chanukah, as explained above. However, the oil that remains after a half hour after nightfall, is not considered Mitzvah oil according to the many opinions, and hence Bedieved if the oil mixed, nullification is not required, even if a stipulation was not made. [Machatzis Hashekel 673:8; Kaf Hachaim 673:48] However, some Poskim rule that according to those who hold that one may not make use of the candles even after the passing of a half hour, then if the candles get mixed up even after a half hour, they are not nullified. [Peri Chadash 673, brought in Kaf Hachaim 673:48]

[15] Yeish Mi Sheomer in Michaber ibid; Rama Y.D. 99:6; Tur in name of Mahram of Rothenberg; Rosh; M”A 677:12; Suggestion of Shach 99:19; Elya Raba 677:7; Metzudas Yissachar 19; Ikkareiy Hadaat 35:32; Pischeiy Teshuvah; Kaf Hachaim 677:31

[16] The reason: As it is forbidden to nullify an Issur Lechatchila. [Rama ibid] It is not similar to the law regarding adding more wood to forbidden wood on Yom Tov, being that the benefit of the wood is only received after it turns to ash. [M”A 677:12; Tur 677; Levush 677; Kaf Hachaim 677:30; See Admur 507:3]

[17] Michaber Y.D. 99:6 [brought in M”A 677:12; M”B 67720]; Rashba; Rashal brought in Taz 99:12; Taz 677:4; Peri Chadash 677; Shulchan Gavoa 677:8

The contradiction in Michaber: In Y.D. ibid the Michaber rules that one may add Heter to nullify a Rabbinical Issur. This seemingly contradicts his ruling here 677:4 that one may not add Heter oil to the mixture to nullify it in 60x. [Taz 99:12] Some Poskim therefore conclude that in truth, based on the Michaber in 99:6, one may add oil to the mixture, and the above opinion in 677:4 is a Daas Yachid. [Taz 677:4; Peri Chadash 677; Shulchan Gavoa 677:8] The Shach 99:19 however suggests that items which are forbidden in benefit due to sacrilege [i.e. using Mitzvah oil for mundane activity] are more severe in their laws then a regular Rabbinical Issur, and hence, there is no contradiction in the Michaber’s rulings. Nevertheless, the Shach concludes with a Tzaruch Iyun. [The Shach questions this answer based on the fact that the source of the stringent opinion brought by the Michaber in 677:4 is the Mahram Rotenberg which is proven to hold like the Rama that one may not add Heter to even Rabbinical Issurim.] The Magen Avraham 677:12 suggests that perhaps Chanukah oil is more stringent as it has a status of Davar Sheyeish Lo Matirin [As the oil will become permitted next year by Chanukah]. Some Poskim however question this assertion. [The Beir Heiytiv [Yoreh Deah 99:14; Orach Chaim 677:5] and Rav Akiva Eiger ask on this answer of the Magen Avraham that if in truth the oil were a Davar Sheyeish Lo Matirin then it would never be nullified even in a 1000x while the Michaber suggests that if there were 60x it would be nullified.]

[18] As so rules Rama ibid, and even according to Michaber, many Poskim understand him to rule stringently in this case

[19] Pashut; Biur Halacha 677:4 “Hatzarich”

[20] Shevet Hakehasi 3:204; Piskeiy Teshuvos 677:8; based on Sukkah 45a that the Esrog of a child receives Kedusha

[21] M”A 677:11; Tur 677; Levush; M”B 677:19; Kaf Hachaim 677:29

[22] The reason: As we suspect that one may come to use it in the interim, either for eating or for lighting. [ibid]

[23] See Michaber Y.D. 57/20; Shach 84/17; Taz Y.D. 84/7; Rashal Perek Eilu Treifos 125, brought in Taz and Shach ibid; Admur 435/4; 447/1; Kuntrus Achron 446/1

[24] Admur 447/1; See Shach 57/47 “21 days is a short time”; Michaber ibid “12 months”

Saving the oil to burn with the Chametz on Erev Pesach: As stated above, it is forbidden to saver the oil for more than 1-2 months. Nonetheless, some are accustomed to save the oil for the burning of the Chametz on Erev Pesach. This is due to that a) today people no longer make use of this oil, and there is hence no suspicion of coming to benefit from it in the interim. B) The oil is usually from a half hour past nightfall, and hence may be benefited from, according to the letter of the law. Nonetheless, it is not to be used to help fuel the burning of the Chametz, as the oil is forbidden in benefit [if it is from within a half hour][See Piskeiy Teshuvos 677:9; 445:5]

[25] Implication of Michaber ibid; Piskeiy Teshuvos 677:9; See Aruch Hashulchan 677:6; Chochmas Shlomo 677; Shraga Hameir 5:118