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Are women required to light the Menorah?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

Library » Holidays » Chanukah » The Laws | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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Yes. Although women are normally exempt from all Positive Mitzvahs which have to be fulfilled at a particular time (see Which Mitzvahs are women obligated to fulfill?), there are exceptions to this rule - and Chanukah is one of these exceptions.

The Talmud1 explains that a pivotal part of the Maccabi victory was a result of the bravery of a young woman, and therefore women share the responsibility for celebrating the Chanukah miracle.

Now, although women are required to light the Menorah, the common custom is that the man of the house lights the menorah, having in mind that the women of the house should be included in this Mitzvah. (This is similar to Shabbat candles, which are lit by the women who have the men in mind). But if a woman is alone at home she is certainly obligated to light the menorah herself.2

The Talmud explains that a pivotal part of the Maccabi victory was a result of the bravery of a young woman.
So you're curious to hear the story, aren't you? Well here goes: During the Greek occupation of the Holy Land, there was an especially sadistic general who decreed that any woman who wants to marry must first spend an intimate evening with the general himself.

You can well imagine that at that point caterers who specialized in weddings were hard pressed to find any business... Many women refused to marry. Others married clandestinely, but instead of rejoicing by their wedding, they hearts were pounding in fear, thinking of the punishment which awaited them if they were caught G-d forbid. This terror lasted until Yehudit, the beautiful daughter of Yochanan the High Priest, took matters into her own hands.

Yehudit was engaged to be married, so she cheerfully approached the dwelling of the vicious general and informed him that she had arrived to do her bridal civic duty... The general invited her in, but Yehudit first insisted on having a romantic dinner with the general. The general was delighted at the prospect, and allowed Yehudit to serve him some of the delicious cheeses she had brought along for the occasion. The salty cheese made the general quite thirsty, so our well-prepared heroine pulled out some strong wine from her backpack; the general downed the bottle and promptly fell into a deep slumber.

At this point Yehudit drew the general's sword and decapitated him. She wrapped his head in a cloth and went back home. The Jews took the head, prominently displayed it in the city, and when the Greek soldiers saw this they fled in disarray!

3

Footnotes

  • 1. Talmud Tractate Shabbat 23a
  • 2. Sources: Talmud, and Rashi's commentary, Shabbat 23a; Code of Jewish Law, Orach Chaim, 675:3.
  • 3. Sources: Talmud, and Rashi's commentary, Shabbat 23a; Code of Jewish Law, Orach Chaim, 675:3.

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RELATED CATEGORIES

Women & Judaism » Women's Mitzvot » Obligations/ Exemptions
Mitzvah
(pl. Mitzvot). A commandment from G-d. Mitzvah also means a connection, for a Jew connects with G–d through fulfilling His commandments.
Shabbat
(pl: Shabbatot). Hebrew word meaning "rest." It is a Biblical commandment to sanctify and rest on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. This commemorates the fact that after creating the world in six days, G-d rested on the seventh.
Talmud
Usually referring to the Babylonian edition, it is a compilation of Rabbinic law, commentary and analysis compiled over a 600 year period (200 BCE - 427 CE). Talmudic verse serves as the bedrock of all classic and modern-day Torah-Jewish literature.
Chanukah
An eight day mid-winter holiday marking: 1) The miraculous defeat of the mighty Syrian-Greek armies by the undermanned Maccabis in the year 140 BCE. 2) Upon their victory, the oil in the Menorah, sufficient fuel for one night only, burned for eight days and nights.
Menorah
Candelabra. Usually a reference to the nine-branched candelabra kindled on the holiday of Chanukah.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.