Women are generally exempt from all positive, time bound Mitzvot, such as the Mitzvah of Shofar on Rosh Hashanah and Sukkah and Lulav on Sukkot.
They Were Included in this Miracle
Nevertheless, our Sages taught (Megillah 4a) that women are commanded in the Mitzvot of lighting Chanukah candles and Megillah reading, for they were included in these miracles.
This means that since the decrees during the times of Purim and Chanukah were equally applicable to men and women, women merited salvation as well and they are therefore obligated in these Mitzvot.
Moreover, the Rashbam writes that the reason why women are obligated in these Mitzvot is because the primary miracles during the times of Purim and Chanukah came about through women. Indeed, the Purim miracle was ushered in through Queen Esther. The first miracle of Chanukah was brought about through Yehudit and other righteous women of that generation. (Another righteous woman being the sister of Yehuda Ha’Makabi, who devoted her life and honor for the Jewish nation. This began the process of the salvation when the Hashmonai family battled and killed the wicked ruler. This paved the war for several more battles through which they reconquered Israel.)
The Story of Yehudit
Let us now briefly recount the story of Yehudit (which is mentioned in the poems of the Rishonim for Shabbat Chanukah):
Several years before the war of the Hashmonai family against the Assyrian-Greeks, the wicked Helifornos took control of a city in Judea named Betul. It was well-known that he would torture the residents of any city he conquered, men, women, and children, and would eventually annihilate them all. The Jewish residents of the city therefore banded together and tried to defend themselves against this enemy. When Helifornos realized that the Jews were fighting back, he besieged the city until all their food and supplies ran out, at which point he would be able to conquer the city without having to fight.
When the city’s water supply was depleted, the residents of the city began to request that their leaders engage in negotiations with Helifornos and request mercy in return for their surrender. At that time, Yehudit, daughter of Yochanan the Kohen Gadol, came before the leaders of the city and told them, “Death is certainly preferable to surrendering to such a cruel ruler. Let us trust in Hashem and wait for His salvation. I have an idea to vanquish Helifornos. May the One who allowed Sisera to fall before Yael, give the head of Helifornos to me!”
Yehudit silently exited the city and inched closer to the enemy camp. The enemy soldiers saw her dressed like true nobility. They asked her what her business was there, and she exclaimed that she needed to meet with Helifornos at once. Helifornos asked her, “What are you doing here?” Yehudit replied, “I am the daughter of the Kohanim, resident of the city that you are besieging. The other residents of the city trust that Hashem will save them, but I truly know that in several days, you will be able to overcome them. I have therefore come to join your camp.” Helifornos noticed her beauty and was impressed with her gentleness and wisdom. He replied, “If you help me to conquer the city, I will marry you.” She agreed and she said she would travel in and out of the city and reveal all of its secrets.
On the third day since their first encounter, Helifornos invited Yehudit to his tent towards the evening. She entered with her servant and brought in a basket laden with food. Helifornos set the table with delicacies, but Yehudit served him the fine cheeses she had brought with her. The cheese was very salty, so he asked for a drink of her wine. Yehudit served him lots of cheese and wine until the evil ruler fell into a deep slumber on his bed.
Yehudit, the delicate woman, was then taken over by a wave of courage and took Helifornos’ own sword, and, while still praying to Hashem and trembling, lowered it mightily down on his neck. With one swift action, she severed his head and placed it in the basket. She returned to her city with the head of the enemy ruler in her hands and in this way, the Jews were victorious over the enemy. The Hashmonai family drew inspiration from this incident that it is not strength that causes the Jewish people to be victorious, for salvation belongs only to Hashem.
A Man Who Cannot Light at Home
Therefore, even if a woman is married and her husband is unable to light the candles at home, for instance, because he has to travel overseas, it is preferable that the husband appoint his wife as his agent to light the Chanukah candles on his behalf at home. In this way, the husband fulfills his obligation even though he is not present at the time of the lighting. Similarly, if a woman lives alone, she is likewise obligated to light Chanukah candles just like a man.
An Individual who Plans on Returning Home Late at Night
Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l writes that even if a husband knows that he will be returning home that same night but at a late hour, it is better for him to appoint his wife as his agent to light the candles at the proper time, which is approximately fifteen minutes after sunset, rather than light on his own at the later time. Even though there is a rule by all Mitzvot that “it is preferable for one to fulfill the Mitzvah on his own rather than through an agent,” in this situation it is preferable for the husband to appoint his wife as his agent since in this way, the Mitzvah will be fulfilled at the proper time our Sages established for it. Additionally, even when one’s wife lights on his behalf, since halachically “one’s wife is like oneself” (meaning they are considered to be one entity), it is considered as if the husband has lit the Chanukah candles on his own.
We should point out, nonetheless, that if this will be the case every day, it is inappropriate that the husband not light Chanukah candles at all throughout the entire duration of Chanukah and this may not be a good influence on the children. Thus, one should ask a halachic authority how to proceed in this case.
Nevertheless, according to the Ashkenazi custom that each member of the household lights for himself, even if the husband has traveled abroad, if he finds himself in a place where he can light, it is preferable that he light in his current location without a blessing and his wife should light at home with a blessing. If at all possible, though, the husband should try to hear the blessings on the lighting from another person.
When there is a Man Lighting
Although women are obligated to light the Chanukah candles, when the head of the household lights at home, his wife and daughters should not light on their own. This would apply even according to the custom of the Ashkenazim that each member of the household lights; even so, one’s wife and daughters should not light. Only if a woman is home alone, for instance if she is still unmarried or even if she is married but her husband is not home at the appropriate candle-lighting time, should she light Chanukah candles.
If One was not Present During the Candle-Lighting on the First Night of Chanukah
An additional issue must still be discussed. We mentioned above that when a husband sees that he will only arrive home late, he should appoint his wife to light on his behalf and he will consequently fulfill his obligation. However, if this was the situation on the first night of Chanukah, the husband will not have recited the “Shehecheyanu” blessing customarily recited on the first night. Thus, if the individual is home on the second night and will be lighting the Chanukah candles himself, he must consequently recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing since this is his first actual lighting of the Chanukah candles.
