Q. According to Rav Sholomo Miller Shlita, can I use a fluorescent light to fulfil my obligation for Ner Shabbos, with a brocha?
A. Poskim disagree if you comply with the mitzvah of lighting Ner Shabbos using incandescent bulbs and if you can recite a brocho over them.
Some permit with a brocho in need (Beis Yitzchok Y.D. 1: 120, Melamed Leho'il 47, Az Nidberu 3: 1,Yabia Omer O.H. 2: 17,Yechave Daas 5: 24, Hachashmal Leror Hahalacha 3: 6.)
Others permit in need without a brocho. (Har Tzvi O.H. 1: 141 – 2: 114: 2, Mishne Halochos 5: 91)
Some Poskim maintain that incandescent bulbs should not be used at all.(Ohel Yitzchok 5668: 3, Levushey Mordechai O.H. 3: 59, Pekudas Elozor 22, Mishpetey Uziel O.H. I; 7.)
Others permit when a battery is used (Ohr LeTzion II:18, Horav S. Z. Auerabach zt"l - Shemira Shabos Kehilchoso 43 n. 22), Horav Tzvi Pesach Frank (in a letter by Rav Ya’akov Ariel) .
On fluorescent lights some Poskim maintain that in need, when no other bulbs are available they can be used without reciting a brocho, (Hachashmal Leror Hahalacha 3: 6. Teshuvos Vehanhogos O.H. 63) Others assert you can also say a brocho. (Sh'vus Yitzchok 3 and Likraas Kalah p.41, quoting Horav Eliashiv)
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that you can only recite a brocho in need on a battery powered tungsten filament light. On fluorescent or on tungsten filament bulbs connected to the grid, you can light when regular candles are not available, without reciting a brocho.The reason is that fluorescent provide their light via the electrically-excited gas contained and are totally dissimilar to the original candle light on which the brocho was instituted.Tungsten filament bulbs, although somewhat similar to candles in that they at least have a burning filament comparable to a wick, they do not contain on their own the energy to stay lighted. That electricity is constantly being generated and you may not make a brocho on fuel that is not yet here, unlike the electricity already stored in batteries.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
