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Is ner Chanukah (חנוכה) an obligation on each person or on each household? The shiur contrasts Rashi (רש"י)'s view (personal obligation following the individual wherever he goes) with the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s approach (household obligation tied to the house itself). This disagreement affects practical questions about lighting away from home and whether multiple family members need separate menorahs.
This shiur provides a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental disagreement between Rashi (רש"י) and the Rambam (רמב"ם) regarding the nature of the mitzvah (מצוה) of ner Chanukah (חנוכה). The discussion centers on the Gemara (גמרא)'s phrase 'ner ish u'veiso' (a candle for a man and his household) and explores whether this creates an obligation on the individual person or on the household/house itself. According to Rashi's interpretation, 'ner ish u'veiso' refers to a person and his family, making this fundamentally a personal obligation (din al ha'gavra). Under this understanding, every family unit requires one candle, and the obligation follows the person wherever he may be. This has practical implications: if someone is away from home - whether camping, in a hotel, or at a wedding - they would still be obligated to light Chanukah candles wherever they find themselves.
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Shabbos 22a
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