Q&A: Financial Loss in Order to Light Hanukkah Candles on Time
Financial Loss in Order to Light Hanukkah Candles on Time
Question
I work for a living at a place that gives me flexibility and lets me leave early during Hanukkah. But if I leave early every day of Hanukkah in order to light at the proper time, altogether I’ll lose a significant amount of money. I could light at around 7:00, while it is still considered a time when people are out in the marketplace nowadays. The option of my wife lighting for me is not relevant for us. Am I obligated to leave work several hours before my usual time in order to light Hanukkah candles at home at their proper time?
Answer
In my opinion, definitely not. Nowadays, the time when the marketplace empties is certainly later, and therefore there are halakhic decisors who wrote that ideally one may light later with a blessing. True, there is still the issue that those who are diligent perform commandments early, but as I understand it, that does not require financial loss. And even if there is some enhancement of the commandment here, one certainly is not required to spend more than an extra third on a commandment (meaning a third above the cost of the commandment, not a third of your salary), as stated in Bava Kamma 9b.