Q. Dearest Rabbi and friend for so many years. As you know I still live in Mexico and I read your truly most interesting questions every week as many many others do.
As you well know Mexico is the “Silver Capital of the World” and one can buy or have made the most new beautiful design that one can imagine.
(I remember your father, although he was the leader of the Religious Department in the Kehila for many years, his business was also manufacturing silver articles and selling for many, including menorahs, as is he most beautiful one in Shaarei Tefilah in now your town). My question is; should one who has been using a Menorah many years and it has therefore great meaning, now that he can afford locally a most great and beautiful new one, do so?
A. Dearest friend, I thank Hashem and you for your sending of great questions. We had a similar one (3640) that I’m including. Please keep on sending more great ones.
Q. Is it better to buy an old menorah that is not very elegant but was used already many years for the mitzvah of Chanuka, or is it better to spend one’s money on a new and very beautiful Menorah? What is the greater Hiddur?
A. Chashukei Chemed (Chanuka 58) has a similar question and he maintains that it depends on the person involved. For some an aged Menorah means a lot and are willing to pay a large sum for it since they greatly appreciate the mitzvos already done on it. Others however, don’t see any beauty or appreciation on an historical object and would rather acquire something new and beautiful.
Chashukei Chemed points out to a Gemara in Gittin (35a) that a woman received some old objects as her Kesuva payment including an antique Sefer Tehilim, Iyov and Mishlei, and they were appraised as worth five manah. That sum, he adds, corresponds to the cost of living for two and a half years, more than double of the payment due to her of two manah
or the monetary needs for one year, that she could have collected for her Kesuva.
However, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that for most it is usually more important and beautiful a new object.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a
Important Numbers
