[Avodah] Practical Psak: Circular Menoras

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

R' Danny Schoemann asked:
> The Gemora clearly states one can fill a bowl with oil,
> surround it with wicks, cover it and use it for a Chanuka
> Menora (Chanukia in modern Hebrew).
> The Shulchan Aruch paskens this (271:4), the Remo is more
> reluctant though he allows a circular Menora.
> The Biur Halocho bring a Rsh"l who says that round is not
> Hidur Mitzva.
> Contemporary authors make it sound like [semi-]circular
> Menoras are no good.

If you learn these sources carefully, you'll see that the shape (or existence) of the menorah is a relatively minor concern. The major concern is that it should be clear to passers-by how many people have it. The distance between the flames is a primary factor in this appearance, and the shape (or existence) of the menora is of secondary significance.

For example, see MB 671:12 (towards the end), where he explicitly says that when using a menorah, one person can put his lights at one end, and another person can put his lights at the other end, provided that there is enough space between them to make it obvous that two people lit.

Now, go back and learn those sources again. This time, pay attention to when it is talking about positioning the lights - which you will find to be very frequent - and when it is talking about the shape of the menorah - which you will find to be very rare, perhaps even nonexistent except for the most recent sources. It might be significant that when the MB above mentioned a menora, he added the word "shelanu" -- suggesting that it was a rather recent invention in his day.

Akiva Miller

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