Q&A: A Non-Jew and Hanukkah Candles
A Non-Jew and Hanukkah Candles
Question
Hello Rabbi, I’m on a week of guard duty and there are several girls with me. I wanted to know whether, when lighting the candles, it’s permissible to honor them by having them light them (after, of course, I make the blessing and light the first candle). The truth is, I don’t know whether they’re secular or even non-Jewish.
Answer
Strictly speaking, there is no problem with letting them light the remaining candles as long as you have fulfilled your obligation with the first candle.
However, it is worth considering whether even for the enhanced manner of performing the commandment we rule that the lighting itself is what constitutes the commandment. If so, then a non-Jew cannot light the additional beautification candles. But if not, then it seems that even the enhanced practice can be fulfilled this way.
If they are Jewish, then in my opinion they can light even the first one.
In any case, there is value in including everyone in the lighting, and in my opinion that is preferable to your personal enhancement of the commandment.