Have you ever wondered if it is permissible to use an electric חנוכיה on Chanukah?
Well, the seventh grade, Torah Shebaal Peh class of Ben Porat Yosef has.
When we started working on this project, we were split into two groups, group one (J’anica) and group two (Electros) J’anica was the group arguing against the use of an electric chanukiah and Electros was the group arguing for it.
Each group made a slide show proving their point. Both groups learned the Gemara Shabbat 21b “Rabbi Zeira said that Rav Mattana said, and others say that Rabbi Zeira said that Rav said: The wicks and oils with which the Sages said one may not light on Shabbat, one may, nevertheless, light with them on Chanukah.
We began discussing with Rav Ilan Acoca in class: If electricity had existed in the time of the Gemara, would it have been accepted or not?
Group J’anica (Jonah Tamir, Nava Papir, Samantha Greenstein, Eliana Cohen, Romy Gabay and Yitzchok Wasserman) all researched and took notes on the reasons why one shouldn’t use an electric חנוכיה. They found out that Rav Moshe Isserles, Rav Yitzchok Schmelkes, Rav Ovadia Yosef and the Rambam all agreed with them on this subject. Here is a summary of what they put in their slideshow; “A person should use olive oil to light the candles on Chanukah so that they feel like they are fulfilling the mitzvah in a more special way since they aren’t using something that is used all year round. Since a light bulb does not consist of oil and wicks, one cannot fulfill the mitzvah of hadlakat ner Chanukah. In addition, we decided that tradition is extremely important and should be kept.” Those were some of the reasons why we held the opinion that one shouldn’t use an electric חנוכיה.
Group Electros (Leah Wertentheil, Sadie Haberman, Elijah Ritter, Jacob Greenstein, Abigail Braunstein and Chani Peled) also took notes and research on the reason why one should be able to use an electric חנוכיה. Here is a summary of what they put in their slideshow. They found that Rav Yosef Messas and Rav Moshe Toledano supported their opinion. “One should be able to use an electric חנוכיה because all materials are kosher for the Chanukiah lighting and that should include electricity. The incandescent light bulb has a wick consisting of the electric wires and the oil and the electric energy represents the oil. We also discussed LED lights that did not have any wires and figured that according to Rav Messas it should be acceptable since there is no source obligating us to have wicks or oil as long as you have a source of light, you fulfill your mitzvah of lighting the chanukiah. We enjoyed this project tremendously since it made us think out of the box. We concluded with the words of the Gemara Eruvin 13a ״אלו ואלו דברי אלקים חיים״ that both opinions are valid and one should consult his rabbi regarding the use of electric chanukiyot.”
We wish you all a happy Chanukah! May the lights (whether electric or not) shine upon the world and bring an end to the darkness. Amen!
By Samantha Greenstein, BPY Grade 7
