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From
<a href="http://revach.net/article.php?id=3160" eudora="autourl">
http://revach.net/article.php?id=3160</a><br><br>
<font size=3>The mitzva of Mehadrin requires each person in the house to
light their own candles. If so, why don't women, who are obligated
in Ner Chanukah, light their own candles? The Mishna Brura (675:9)
brings from the Olas Shmuel that a married women is like her husband, so
she doesn't light. Even single girls are batel to the men in this
respect, and do not light. <br><br>
Why are women batel to men when it comes to Ner Chanuka if they are also
obligated? The Chasam Sofer (Shabbos 21b) explains that since Ner
Chanuka is performed outside in the street, it is not Tzanua for a woman
to light her candles among the men. Rather they should listen to
men from inside the house.<br><br>
The Piskei Tshuvos (671:2) brings the Mishmeres Shalom (48:2) that says
that if there are only women in the house, then in fact, all of them
should light. However even in this case it is customary for only
the mother to light and be Motzi the rest of the girls. <br>
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Question: Given that today most people do not light their menora
outside in the street, is the reason given by the CS for women not
lighting still valid? Also, if the husband is lighting outside in
the street and the women are inside, can he be motzi them? I
recall that in one shul the rov insisted that men not daven in the ladies
section, because he felt that if they davened there, they were not
counted as part of the minyan. YL</font></body>
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