[Avodah] Women Lighting Menorahs

[Arie Folger]

I am replying to the part of the thread discussing who is obligated to light 
Shabbat candles.

Please note that nowadays we have electric lighting and still light, out of 
kavod Shabbat. As far as the original taqanah, we probably fulfil our duty 
through the electrical light in the dining room and in the hallway or 
bathroom. Also note that we allow several women to light with a berakhah, for 
example when one woman is the guest of the other one.

The only way I can make sufficient sence of the whole matter is that at the 
very least every household needs to be lit, without regard to the number of 
household members (the ba'al habayit is presumably responsible in absence of 
a minhag-designated candle lighter), and that we allow additional people to 
light and bless based on ribbuy kavod Shabbat.

Hence, there should be no impediment to every household member lighting the 
candles; minhag Yisrael is simply different, but needn't be.

However, because of the fact that the obligation is for the light to be lit, 
rather than for lighting, because of the fact that candle lighting has 
morphed into kavod Shabbat instead of 'oneg Shabbat, and because of the 
permissibility of blessing for ribbuy nerot, I believe that any comparison 
with nerot 'hannukah is inappropriate.
-- 
Arie Folger
http://www.ariefolger.googlepages.com