Q&A: Moving a Hanukkah Menorah on the Sabbath
Moving a Hanukkah Menorah on the Sabbath
Question
Hello, Your Honor,
We have the custom that each member of the household lights a Hanukkah menorah personally with a blessing. My wife will be on shift at the hospital from Friday afternoon until Saturday afternoon. So that she can light the menorah at the hospital, would it be permitted for her to bring it back home in her bag at the end of the shift—in the middle of the Sabbath?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello to you too. 🙂
Why would it be permitted? Because of substantial financial loss? Is the menorah expensive? Either let her light with a simple menorah, or have her take it from the hospital the next day (if there is no concern about theft). In any case, it is clear that it is preferable even that she not light at all (which at most goes against your custom) rather than that she take it on the Sabbath (which is an outright prohibition).
Discussion on Answer
That applies to their weapons, which are needed for the rescue.
Thank you.
The reasoning for being lenient was based on "all who go out to save may return to their place with their weapons" (Orach Chayim, sec. 329, para. 9).