Ask The Rabbi...
November 28, 1993 Issue #1
Premier Issue!

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This edition contains:
1.  Lighting Chanukah candles and crossing the International Dateline.
2.  What is "Ask The Rabbi" and how to submit a question.

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Stu@lovelace asks:

>I will be traveling from Los Angeles, California to Melbourne Australia.  
>I leave at 7:10pm on Monday 13 December and arrive in Melbourne at 1:00pm 
>on Wednesday 15 December.  I can light candles for the 6th night of 
>Chanukah before I leave.  The question is where do I light candles for the 
>7th night?  I do not know if it will be light or dark when I cross the 
>International Dateline.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Stu,

For someone traveling on Chanukah who will be unable to light the menorah, 
the halacha is as follows:

You may appoint a "shaliach" (agent) to light a menorah for you in your own 
home.  Any adult Jew  (a male over 13 years or a female more than 12 years) 
may serve as an agent.  If you are married, it is best to ask your spouse 
to light the menorah in the home, if possible, but any adult Jew is 
acceptable.  When your agent recites the brachot when lighting his own 
menorah, he should have in mind that these brachot are also for the sake of 
his lighting of your menorah which he will do afterwards.  If your agent is 
not lighting any menorah for himself, then he should recite the brachot 
when he lights your menorah.

I would not recommend trying to light your menorah on the airplane!    

In the unlikely event that you are unable to find an agent, you are exempt 
from fulfilling the mitzvah.

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