כַּמָּה נֵרוֹת הוּא מַדְלִיק בַּחֲנֻכָּה. מִצְוָתָהּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּל בַּיִת וּבַיִת מַדְלִיק נֵר אֶחָד בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מְרֻבִּין בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בּוֹ אֶלָּא אָדָם אֶחָד. וְהַמְהַדֵּר אֶת הַמִּצְוָה מַדְלִיק נֵרוֹת כְּמִנְיַן אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת נֵר לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בֵּין אֲנָשִׁים בֵּין נָשִׁים. וְהַמְהַדֵּר יוֹתֵר עַל זֶה וְעוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר מַדְלִיק נֵר לְכָל אֶחָד בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן וּמוֹסִיף וְהוֹלֵךְ בְּכָל לַיְלָה וְלַיְלָה נֵר אֶחָד: How many lamps should one light on Chanukah? It is a commandment that one light be kindled in each and every house whether it be a household with many people or a house with a single person. One who enhances the commandment should light lamps according to the number of people of the house — a lamp for each and every person, whether they are men or women. One who enhances [it] further than this and performs the commandment in the choicest manner lights a lamp for each person on the first night and continues to add one lamp on each and every night.
כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת עֲשָׂרָה. בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן מַדְלִיק עֲשָׂרָה נֵרוֹת וּבְלֵיל שֵׁנִי עֶשְׂרִים וּבְלֵיל שְׁלִישִׁי שְׁלֹשִׁים עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא מַדְלִיק בְּלֵיל שְׁמִינִי שְׁמוֹנִים נֵרוֹת: How is this? See that [if] the people of the household were ten: On the first night, one lights ten lamps; on the second night, twenty; on the third night, thirty; until it comes out that he lights eighty lamps on the eighth night.
מִנְהָג פָּשׁוּט בְּכָל עָרֵינוּ בִּסְפָרַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כָּל אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מַדְלִיקִין נֵר אֶחָד בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן וּמוֹסִיפִין וְהוֹלְכִין נֵר בְּכָל לַיְלָה עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא מַדְלִיק בְּלֵיל שְׁמִינִי שְׁמוֹנָה נֵרוֹת בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מְרֻבִּים בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה אָדָם אֶחָד: The widespread custom in all of our cities in Spain is that all of the people of the household light one lamp on the first night. And they continue to add one lamp on each night, until it comes out that one lights eight lamps on the eighth night — whether the people of the household were many or whether it was [only] one man.
נֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שְׁתֵּי פִּיּוֹת עוֹלֶה לִשְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם. מִלֵּא קְעָרָה שֶׁמֶן וְהִקִּיפָהּ פְּתִילוֹת. אִם כָּפָה עָלֶיהָ כְּלִי כָּל פְּתִילָה וּפְתִילָה נֶחְשֶׁבֶת כְּנֵר אֶחָד. לֹא כָּפָה עָלֶיהָ כְּלִי נַעֲשֵׂית כִּמְדוּרָה וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּנֵר אֶחָד אֵינָהּ נֶחְשֶׁבֶת: A lamp with two openings can count for two people. [If] one filled a bowl with oil and spread wicks around it: If he covered it with a vessel (to fix each wick in its distinct place), each and every wick is considered a [separate] lamp. [But if] he did not cover it with a vessel, it becomes like a bonfire, and it is not even considered one lamp.
אֵין מַדְלִיקִין נֵרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה קֹדֶם שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה אֶלָּא עִם שְׁקִיעָתָהּ לֹא מְאַחֲרִין וְלֹא מַקְדִּימִין. שָׁכַח אוֹ הֵזִיד וְלֹא הִדְלִיק עִם שְׁקִיעַת הַחַמָּה מַדְלִיק וְהוֹלֵךְ עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק. וְכַמָּה הוּא זְמַן זֶה כְּמוֹ חֲצִי שָׁעָה אוֹ יֶתֶר. עָבַר זְמַן זֶה אֵינוֹ מַדְלִיק. וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּתֵּן שֶׁמֶן בַּנֵּר כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה דּוֹלֶקֶת וְהוֹלֶכֶת עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק. הִדְלִיקָהּ וְכָבְתָה אֵינוֹ זָקוּק לְהַדְלִיקָהּ פַּעַם אַחֶרֶת. נִשְׁאֲרָה דּוֹלֶקֶת אַחַר שֶׁכָּלְתָה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק אִם רָצָה לְכַבּוֹתָהּ אוֹ לְסַלְּקָהּ עוֹשֶׂה: We may not light Chanukah lamps before the sun sets, but rather [must light] with its setting. We do not delay [from it] or precede [it. If] one forgot, or acted wantonly, and did not light with the setting of the sun, he can light until pedestrians have left the marketplace. And how much is that time? Like a half hour or more. [If] this time passes, he may not light. And he needs to put enough oil in the lamp so that it will continue to be lit until the pedestrians have left the marketplace. [If] he lit it and it became extinguished, he is not required to light it another time. [If] it stayed lit after the pedestrians have left the marketplace — if he wanted to extinguish it or take it away, he may do [so].
כָּל הַשְּׁמָנִים וְכָל הַפְּתִילוֹת כְּשֵׁרוֹת לְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הַשְּׁמָנִים נִמְשָׁכִים אַחַר הַפְּתִילָה וְאֵין הָאוּר נִתְלֵית יָפֶה בְּאוֹתָן הַפְּתִילוֹת. וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּלֵילֵי שַׁבָּת שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה מֻתָּר לְהַדְלִיק הַשְּׁמָנִים וְהַפְּתִילוֹת שֶׁאָסוּר לְהַדְלִיק בָּהֶן נֵר שַׁבָּת. לְפִי שֶׁאָסוּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה בֵּין בְּשַׁבָּת בֵּין בְּחל וַאֲפִלּוּ לִבְדֹּק מָעוֹת אוֹ לִמְנוֹתָן לְאוֹרָהּ אָסוּר: All oils and all wicks are fit for the Chanukah lamp — even if the oils are not drawn well by the wicks or the fire does not sit well on those wicks. And even on Shabbat night that is during Chanukah, it is permissible to light with oils and wicks with which it is forbidden to light on Shabbat. For it is forbidden to use [the light of] the Chanukah lamp — whether on Shabbat or on [a weekday]. And it is forbidden even to check coins or to count them with its light.
נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחוֹ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ מִבַּחוּץ בַּטֶּפַח הַסָּמוּךְ לַפֶּתַח עַל שְׂמֹאל הַנִּכְנָס לַבַּיִת כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מְזוּזָה מִיָּמִין וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִשְּׂמֹאל. וְאִם הָיָה דָּר בַּעֲלִיָּה מַנִּיחוֹ בַּחַלּוֹן הַסְּמוּכָה לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁהִנִּיחוֹ לְמַעְלָה מֵעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִכָּר: It is a commandment to place the Chanukah lamp at the entrance of one's house from the outside within the handbreadth adjacent to [the edge of] the entrance, so that the mezuzah will be to the right and the Chanukah lamp to the left. And if he was living in an attic, he places it in the window that is adjacent to the public domain. One who has placed the Chanukah lamp above twenty ells has not done anything, because it is not recognizable.
בִּימֵי הַסַּכָּנָה מַנִּיחַ אָדָם נֵר חֲנֻכָּה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ מִבִּפְנִים וַאֲפִלּוּ הִנִּיחוֹ עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ דַּיּוֹ. וְצָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת בְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת נֵר אַחֵר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לְאוֹרוֹ. וְאִם הָיְתָה שָׁם מְדוּרָה אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ נֵר אַחֵר. וְאִם אָדָם חָשׁוּב הוּא שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכּוֹ לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לִמְדוּרָה צָרִיךְ נֵר אַחֵר: In times of danger, one places the Chanukah light within his house inside. And even if he places it on his table, it is enough for it. But there needs to be another lamp inside the house to use for its light. And if there was a bonfire there, he does not need another lamp. But if he was an important man the way of whom is not to use a bonfire [for light], he needs another lamp.
נֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁהִדְלִיקוֹ חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן אוֹ עַכּוּ''ם לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם עַד שֶׁיַּדְלִיקֶנּוּ מִי שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב בַּהַדְלָקָה. הִדְלִיקוֹ מִבִּפְנִים וְהוֹצִיאוֹ דָּלוּק וְהִנִּיחוֹ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם עַד שֶׁיַּדְלִיקֶנּוּ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ. אָחַז הַנֵּר בְּיָדוֹ וְעָמַד לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם שֶׁהָרוֹאֶה אוֹמֵר לְצָרְכּוֹ הוּא עוֹמֵד. עֲשָׁשִׁית שֶׁהָיְתָה דּוֹלֶקֶת כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ לְמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת מְכַבֶּה וּמְבָרֵךְ וּמַדְלִיקָהּ שֶׁהַהַדְלָקָה הִיא הַמִּצְוָה וְלֹא הַהַנָּחָה. וּמֻתָּר לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִנֵּר חֲנֻכָּה: [In a case of] a Chanukah lamp that was lit by a deaf-mute, a mentally incapacitated person, a minor or an idolater: He has not done anything until one who is obligated in lighting has lit it. [If] one lit it inside, took it lit outside and placed it at the entrance of his house — he has not done anything until he lights it in its place. One who held the lamp in his hand and stands has not done anything; for the viewer will say he is standing for his needs. [In a case of] a lantern that was lit the whole entire day: At the conclusion of Shabbat, he should extinguish it, recite the blessing and light it. For the lighting is the commandment, and not the placement. And it is permissible to light a Chanukah lamp from [another] Chanukah lamp.
חָצֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ שְׁנֵי פְּתָחִים בִּשְׁתֵּי רוּחוֹת צְרִיכָה שְׁתֵּי נֵרוֹת. שֶׁמָּא יֹאמְרוּ הָעוֹבְרִים בְּרוּחַ זוֹ לֹא הִנִּיחַ נֵר חֲנֻכָּה. אֲבָל אִם הָיוּ בְּרוּחַ אַחַת מַדְלִיק בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶן: A courtyard that has two entrances on two sides needs to light two lamps — lest passersby on this side will say he did not place a Chanukah lamp [at all]. But if they were [both] on one side, he [only needs to] light in one of them.
אוֹרֵחַ שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין עָלָיו בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק עָלָיו בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁנִּתְאָרֵחַ בּוֹ. אֵין לוֹ בַּיִת לְהַדְלִיק עָלָיו בּוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁנִּתְאָרֵחַ בּוֹ. וּמִשְׁתַּתֵּף עִמָּהֶן בַּשֶּׁמֶן. וְאִם הָיָה לוֹ בַּיִת בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין עָלָיו בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק בַּבַּיִת שֶׁהוּא בּוֹ מִפְּנֵי הָעוֹבְרִין: A guest for whom they light in his home does not need to light for himself in the place in which he is a guest. [But if] he does not have a home in which [they] light for him, he must light in the place where he is a guest; so he participates with them in [the cost of] the oil. But if (as a guest) he had his own house — even though they are lighting for him in his house — he needs to light in the house he is in because of the passersby.
מִצְוַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִצְוָה חֲבִיבָה הִיא עַד מְאֹד וְצָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִזָּהֵר בָּהּ כְּדֵי לְהוֹדִיעַ הַנֵּס וּלְהוֹסִיף בְּשֶׁבַח הָאֵל וְהוֹדָיָה לוֹ עַל הַנִּסִּים שֶׁעָשָׂה לָנוּ. אֲפִלּוּ אֵין לוֹ מַה יֹּאכַל אֶלָּא מִן הַצְּדָקָה שׁוֹאֵל אוֹ מוֹכֵר כְּסוּתוֹ וְלוֹקֵחַ שֶׁמֶן וְנֵרוֹת וּמַדְלִיק: The precept of lighting the Hanukkah lamp is exceedingly precious, and one should carefully observe it in order to acclaim the miracle, ever praising and thanking God for the miracles which he has performed for us. Even if one has nothing to eat except what he gets from charity, he should borrow, or sell his garment, to buy oil and lamps and light them.
הֲרֵי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא פְּרוּטָה אַחַת וּלְפָנָיו קִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם וְהַדְלָקַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מַקְדִּים לִקְנוֹת שֶׁמֶן לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה עַל הַיַּיִן לְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם. הוֹאִיל וּשְׁנֵיהֶם מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים מוּטָב לְהַקְדִּים נֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ זִכְרוֹן הַנֵּס: See that [if] one has only one coin, and the Kiddush of the [Shabbat] and lighting the Hanukah lamp are before him — he should have buying oil for lighting the Hanukah lamp precede over buying wine for Kiddush of the day. Since they are both from the words of the Scribes (rabbinic) — it is better to have the Hanukah lamp precede, as it contains a memorial of the miracle.
הָיָה לְפָנָיו נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה אוֹ נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם נֵר בֵּיתוֹ קוֹדֵם מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי הַשֵּׁם נִמְחָק לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ. גָּדוֹל הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁכָּל הַתּוֹרָה נִתְּנָה לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ג יז) "דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם": If a [poor] person must choose between Sabbath lights and Hanukkah lights, or between Sabbath lights and wine for Kiddush, the lighting of his home takes priority, so as to sustain peace in the house, since even the divine name was erased [in the oath of purgation—Numbers 5:12-31] to make peace between [a jealous] husband and his wife. Great is peace, since the entire Torah has been given to create peace in the world, as it is written: "Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace" (Proverbs 3:17).