Q. Querido Rabino; A friend of us has been detained in a Central American country, and although all efforts were and are done, he will likely be there at least during Chanuka. The authorities are nowadays very antisemitic and he most likely will not be able, even with a bribe, to light the Menorah himself, and that would the first time in his life after Bar Mitzva. This is making him very depressed.
Can one stand on the jail’s parking lot outside his cell and just use laser diode rays that will shine the lights through the open window with iron bars on his wall for Chanuka lights?
A. As mentioned on question 4565 above, one cannot comply with a laser beam ray the mitzva of Chanuka lights. Since as you said that he is being already included in a group of people lighting and thus he complies with that the mitzva, the added procedure should be done in order to relieve his suffering and show the caring of his friends.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a
Important Numbers
