Q. Re- question 1542 above (I'm a divorced woman living with my daughter). Does my daughter who is not bat- mitzva, have to light too?
A. As explained above, although women are obliged on the mitzvah of lighting the menorah, when possible they do not light themselves.
In regards to children, Poskim disagree if the boys who are not bar mitzva yet, have a mitzva of chinuch to light the menorah. The reason being that since the case of everyone lighting their own full menorah is described as “mehadrin min hamehadrin,” or being extremely virtuous and exceptionally outstanding, it may not apply to the education of minors. (Magen Avrohom 677: 8, Machatzis Hashekel ibid.)
Others maintain that the minhag is that even children light today, since the mitzva is easily accessible to all. (Nitei Gavriel 7: 3, Piskei Teshuvos 671: 2).
They all agree that girls do not have the mitzva of chinuch and are not obliged to light their own menorah, however they do have to be present at the time of the lighting.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar. He adds that if the daughter wants to light her own menorah, she may do so.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
Important Numbers
