Question: You have written that it is customary to eat dairy foods during Chanukah to commemorate the miracle of Yehudit who fed cheeses to the enemy general. This miracle occurred several years before the miracle of the Hashmonaim. If so, what is its connection to Chanukah?
Answer: The custom of partaking of dairy foods on Chanukah in commemoration of Yehudit’s miracle is sourced in the Rishonim quoted by the Rama (Chapter 670). Although the miracle of Yehudit occurred several years before the other miracles associated with Chanukah, the Ben Ish Hai (Parashat Vayeshev, Section 24) writes that since this enemy general was one of the Assyrian-Greek kings and he also wished to cause the Jewish nation to relinquish their religion, we commemorate this miracle as well during Chanukah, since it revolves around the same theme.
Question: If donuts (“Sufganiyot”) are served during a bread meal, should one recite a blessing on them?
Answer: Donuts, which, in general, require the Mezonot blessing, do not require a blessing during a bread meal. Since this matter is subject to debate, Maran zt”l writes (Chazon Ovadia- Chanukah, page 19) that it is preferable to first recite Birkat Hamazon at the end of the meal and only then serve the donuts, at which point one would recite the Mezonot and “Al Ha’Michya” blessings.
Question: If a case of olive oil was mistakenly placed under a bed and that bed was slept on, may this oil be used for lighting Chanukah candles?
Answer: Oil that was placed under a bed that was slept on becomes forbidden for consumption because an evil spirit rests on it. Thus, the Ben Ish Hai (Parashat Vayeshev) rules that such oil should not be used for lighting Chanukah candles since one must use oil that is permitted for consumption. Nevertheless, Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l (Chazon Ovadia- ibid, page 88) discusses this point and rules that such oil may be used for lighting Chanukah candles for several reasons.
