[Avodah] Women Lighting menorahs (fwd)

[Steven J Scher]

[Forwarded to Avodah at the suggestion of the Areivim moderators]

On Areivim, someone asked whether or not the female members lit their own 
menorahs.  Toby Katz reminded us that this had been discussed before, and 
that whether or not a woman lit a menorah broke down along the expected 
lines.  She added:

Rn TK:
> re the question you asked, about arvm rebbetzens -- I of course do not
> light the menorah, but I do get to polish it and clean it up.


I'll start by saying that (a) my wife does light her own menorah, and (b)
if any polishing (of menorahs, shabbos candlesticks, shabbos
silverware etc) gets done in our house, I'm the one who does it.

But, on a more serious note, I don't really understand Rn Katz's "of
course"

The sources are clear that a woman is equally chayav the menorah on
Hannukah (just as she is chayav megillah on Purim; OC 675:3; Rambam Hil.
Chanuka 3:4; Hil. Megilla 1:1), and that she CAN light
her own menorah (unlike megillah, according to the Mishna Berurah; MB 7 
on OC689:2).  In fact, she can be motzi her husband (although the MB 
recommends against this if he is actually in the house).

Now, we know that the mehadrin approach is for there to be a candle for
every member of the house (or 1/night for each member to be mehadrin min
hamehadrin).

It seems there are several interpretations about what happens in the Katz
home (not at all equally likely in my mind), and I am serious when I want
to know which of these (or, one I'm missing) that Toby and other women
who don't light for themselves is following:

1) R'MK lights a menorah for himself, and a second one for his wife
(and additional ones for their daughters?)

2) The mehadrin approach only means a candle for each MALE member of the
household.

3) The Katz' don't hold by, or don't choose to follow, the mehadrin
position.

Enquiring minds want to know.

Thanks.

steve