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Is Chanukah (חנוכה) lighting a personal obligation or a house-based obligation like mezuzah? The machlokes between Rashi (רש"י) and the Rambam (רמב"ם) on 'ner ish ubeito' creates different understandings of mehadrin - the Rambam sees hiddur mitzvah (מצוה) (beautification) while Rashi defines it as substantively chasing after mitzvos.
This shiur provides a detailed analysis of Gemara (גמרא) Shabbos (שבת) 21b, focusing on the fundamental nature of the Chanukah (חנוכה) candle obligation. Rabbi Zweig begins by examining the phrase 'ner ish ubeito' and presents two competing interpretations: Rashi (רש"י)'s view that it means one candle for a man and his family (suggesting a personal obligation), versus the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s understanding that it means one candle for a man's house (suggesting a house-based obligation similar to mezuzah). The practical differences are significant - under Rashi's interpretation, each person has individual fulfillment of the mitzvah (מצוה), while under the Rambam's view, the house fulfillment suffices for all residents. This leads to important halachic questions about guests (whether they need hishtafus b'pruta), and whether someone gets kiyum hamitzvah when not lighting personally. The shiur then explores the concept of 'mehadrin' - those who enhance the mitzvah. Here too, Rashi and Rambam differ fundamentally. The Rambam views mehadrin as hiddur mitzvah (beautification) - lighting multiple candles to represent more people saved in the miracle. Rashi, however, defines 'mehadrin achar hamitzvot' as chasing after mitzvos - not beautification but adding substantive dimensions to the mitzvah. According to Rashi's approach, this creates an entirely different category of enhancement that adds new meaning rather than mere aesthetic improvement. The shiur concludes by examining the Gemara's discussion of 'mehadrin min hamehadrin' and how these two approaches create different hierarchies of observance, with significant implications for the nature of mitzvah enhancement in general.
Shabbos 21b
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