More Discussions for this daf
1. Chanukah 2. Chanukah Candles 3. Rambam
4. Madlik 5. Rashi about Eruvin 6. Candles Lit from Shabbos to Shabbos
7. Rashi's Midrashim 8. Berachah For Hadlakas Ner Shabbos 9. The Gra's Opinion On Ner Shabbos
10. Berachah On Ner Shabbos 11. Hadlakah Oseh Mitzvah 12. Berachah on the Tefilah Shel Rosh
13. DEMAI 14. Shabbos Candles 15. The Rabbinic institution of Chanukah lights
16. Brachos on Yom tov Sheini 17. Lo Sasur as a source for Chanukah 18. נר שבת קודם לנר חנוכה
DAF DISCUSSIONS - SHABBOS 23

Yedidya Israel asked:

In Shabbat 23a the Gemara says: "Ela Ee Amret Hanacha Osa Mitsva Hai Mechabah Umadlikah? Mechabah Umagbiha Umanichah Umadlikah Miv'e Leh."

If Hanacha Osa Mitsva isn't it more correct to say "Mechabah Umagbiha Umadlikah Umanichah "?

Thanks in advance and Chanuka Sameah.

The Kollel replies:

When the Gemara says "Hanachah" Oseh Mitzvah, it does not mean that "one must place it down" after lighting every time he lights it, but rather that (1) it must be resting at the time that he lights it, and not held in his hands (22b), and that (2) it does not need a new lighting when it was lit improperly. Placing it down alone is sufficient.

(You may have been bothered by the Gemara's statement that if Hanachah is the Mitzvah, one cannot light from one wick to another, implying that lighting alone is not the Mitzvah until one does a Hanachah. However, I do not think that the Gemara means that. Rather, it means that according to this opinion, the Mitzvah is having it lit -- that is, after the lighting has been done -- rather than lighting the candles -- that is, the act of lighting itself.)

-Mordecai