[Avodah] Ner ish ubeito

[Saul Mashbaum]

RETurkel
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There is a major debate among poskim whether one needs a house in
order to light candles. Is the mitzvak on the person (gavra) or the
house (heftza - that each house needs candles). Proofs are brought in
each direction.

As R. Pick indicated R. Elyashiv seems to hold that one who does not
have a home eg an airplane does not light. Other poskim disagree.
Another difference would be soldiers or hikers sleeping outdoors

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RSZA was definitely of the opinion that the mitzva of ner chanuka is
only in one's house, and those not in a house (such as those the above
mentioned hikers or soldiers) are entirely exempt from the mitzva (See
Halichot Shlomo al Moadei Hasahna, Tishrei Adar, p 257, Shu"t Minchat
Shlomo Tanina 57). This is indicated in  the Rambam Chanuka 4:1 who
specifically mentions "bayit" as where the mitzvais done, and Tosfor
Succa 46a "haroeh".

OTOH, RSZA holds that an airplane (or ship or train) is sufficiently a
domicile to require lighting candles, albeit without a bracha. If the
travelers's family is home and lights for him, he need not light at
all on the plane. Interestingly, RSZA says that even if the traveler
is in a different time zone from his family, and it is not night where
he is, he still is "yotzeh" with his family's lighting.

Since it is normally not possible to light candles on a plane, RZSA
paskened that one should  set up a flashlight on the fold-down table
before one's seat (again, with no bracha), and keep it on for at least
a half an hour

Saul Mashbaum