Q. I was stranded in an airport during Chanuka, and I had to stay there overnight while waiting for the next available flight. Since I live alone, I didn’t have anyone to contact and light in my home for me. Should I have bought a flashlight and turned it on in the corner of the airport where I was “camping” out?
A. In principle Horav Shlomo Miller’s opinion is that one should avoid at all costs traveling during Chanuka outside of town, since there are many issues involved that can affect the compliance of the mitzva.
On question 1227 in regards to lighting the menora for someone who is totally homeless and sleeps on a bench in the park, we wrote; “Poskim disagree whether some type of minimal dwelling is needed for the mitzva of ner Chanuka. Rashi’s (Shabbos 23a, d,h, Haroeh) opinion is quoted in Igrois Moishe (Y.D. 3: 14: 5) who deduces from Rashi that one sleeping outside, without any shelter, as when sleeping on the desert’s sand, is exempt from ner Chanuka. Tosafos (Suka 46a) quotes two reasons why our sages instituted a special bracha for seeing the lights of Chanuka, (birchas haroeh), one of them is that it was acted for satisfying the need of those who don’t have any dwelling.
Peninei Chanuka (p. 56) quotes Horav Eliashuv’s zt”l opinion that soldiers sleeping in tents less that four by four amos, have to light with a brocho, if they are is at least ten tefachim high. Otherwise the tents are not considered a dwelling at all. Ner Ish Ubeisoi (4: 16 n. 34) quotes also Horav Eliashuv’s zt”l ruling that when kindling in a tent without any walls, no brocho should be recited. He seems also to agree that some minimal dwelling is required. Avnei Yashfa (O.H. 5: 94: 2) agrees.
However, Tsitz Eliezer (15: 29) and Beis Sheorim (362) seem to disagree and even soldiers in their trenches should light. Adnei Paz (O.H. 3: 143) and others, after quoting the different opinions of the Rishonim and Poskim, rule that one without any abode, should try to make a shaliach or agent light for him if possible, either way he should light outside without a brocho.Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar.”
On question 414 regarding lighting in a hospital we wrote; “Most Poskim rule that you should not recite a brocho on an electric menorah since it lacks a proper wick and therefore does not conform with the definition of “hadloko” or lighting. It also lacks an existing fuel supply, since the necessary electricity is not stored but rather it is constantly being generated. (Bais Yitzchok Y.D. 1: 120 & 2: 130, Levushey Mordechai 3: 59, Yaskil Avdi 3: 17, Nitey Gavriel – Chanuka 18: 23 et. al.). Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is likewise, but he permits, when no other possibility exist to light with a brocho on a battery powered electric menorah. The best solution would be for you to name a shliach and have the agent light at your home, if anyone is living there.”
Since any lighting on the airport will be done anyway without a brocho, if you can acquire an old time tungsten filament bulb flashlight, It would be best.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
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