[Avodah] Lehadlik Ner

[Joel C. Salomon]

On Mon, Jul 16, 2012 at 6:36 AM, R. Allan Engel wrote:

> On Mon, Jul 16, 2012 at 12:05 AM, Akiva Miller wrote:
>>
>> But that's Modern Hebrew, and a mere introduction to the real questions,
>> which are: What does "l'hadlik ner" mean in Lashon Hakodesh? What is a
>> "ner"? What of a light which does *not* consume any fuel? Does lighting
>> such a light constitute "hadlaka"?
>
> A similar question could arise over the brocho for tefillin.
>
> The mitzva is to wear tefillin, but the brocho is 'Lehoniach Tefillin' - to
> 'put them on'. The 'putting on' is merely the process by which the mitzva is
> achieved, not the mitzva itself, unlike, say, 'Al Achilas Matza'.
>
> Similarly, 'Lehadlik Ner' could the process by which the desired result,
> extra light, is achieved. Perhaps in both cases the 'action' is secondary to
> the result.
>
> The nafka mina with tefillin might be when a man does not put on his own
> tefillin, for example if he's old or ill (or when boys have tefillin put on
> for them by chasiddic Rebbes).

If I remember correctly from my bar mitzva pshet'l, this ties in to
the brocho "AKBV al mitzvas tefillin" made on tefillin shel rosh. The
shel rosh has the additional aspect of forbidding hesech hadaas while
it's worn; the mitzva therefore is in the wearing rather than (as with
the shel yad) in the donning.

—J. Chesky Salomon