Chanukah Lighting Location: Rashi vs Tosafos vs Rambam

Full Summary

This shiur provides an extensive analysis of Gemara (גמרא) Shabbos (שבת) 21b, focusing on the machlokes between major Rishonim regarding the proper location for lighting Chanukah (חנוכה) candles. Rabbi Zweig begins by examining the Gemara's statement that the Chanukah light should be placed 'al pesach (פסח) beiso mibachutz' (at the entrance of his house, outside). Rashi (רש"י) interprets this to mean lighting in one's chatzer (courtyard), not in the reshus harabim (public domain), while Tosafos (תוספות) maintains that one should always light in the reshus harabim for maximum pirsumei nisa (publicizing the miracle). The shiur identifies an apparent contradiction in Rashi between two different passages - on 21b Rashi says not to light in reshus harabim, while on 22a he permits lighting either in the chatzer or reshus harabim. Rabbi Zweig resolves this by explaining that Rashi distinguishes between two cases: when there's no tzuras pesach (doorway structure), one can light anywhere in the chatzer; when there is a tzuras pesach, one must light tefach hasamuch (within a handbreadth) of the entrance. The Rambam (רמב"ם) presents a third position, always requiring lighting tefach hasamuch lapesach regardless of circumstances. The shiur then explores the case of someone living on an upper floor (aliyah). According to Rashi, if the upstairs resident has a designated entrance (pesach) in the courtyard, he lights downstairs; if he only has access via a ladder without a proper entrance, he lights upstairs in his window. The Rambam, however, rules that anyone living upstairs lights upstairs regardless of whether they have a downstairs entrance. This leads to Rabbi Zweig's fundamental insight about the nature of the mitzvah (מצוה) itself. He argues that the Rambam views Chanukah lighting as a din bayis (obligation on the house) similar to mezuzah, rather than a personal obligation. Just as mezuzah makes the house into a Jewish home, Chanukah lighting makes the house into a 'house of pirsumei nisa.' This explains why the Rambam always requires lighting tefach hasamuch lapesach - like mezuzah, it must be affixed to the house structure itself. According to other Rishonim, the mitzvah is personal (chiyuv gavra), focusing on the individual's obligation to publicize the miracle. The shiur concludes by noting that this fundamental dispute affects practical halacha (הלכה), particularly regarding multiple residents in one dwelling and the exact location requirements for the lights.