Times of Danger
Before we explain the preferred time to light Chanukah candles, let us first discuss a general rule regarding Chanukah candles.
During the era during which the Chanukah miracle occurred and several generations thereafter, the situation in Israel was relatively safe for the Jewish people and therefore, people would light Chanukah candles on the outside of their front doors, facing the street, in order to maximally publicize the miracle of Chanukah to all passersby.
Several generations later, the Jewish nation began being attacked by their enemies in the various countries they resided in, such that lighting Chanukah candles outside would pose a real risk of danger to them. Furthermore, there were periods when the government banned lighting Chanukah candles altogether during their pagan holidays which coincided with Chanukah. There were other periods throughout history when, although non-Jews would not necessarily attack the Jews, they would nevertheless vandalize their Menorahs, such that it was almost impossible to light outside (see Megillat Ta’anit). The Sages then dictated that the Jewish people light Chanukah candles inside their homes, as opposed to outside their front doors, so that the Mitzvah may be performed and the miracle publicized at least to one’s immediate family. Indeed, our Sages taught, “And from the times of danger and on, one may light the candles on one’s table and this is sufficient.”
The Time to Light
When our Sages originally instituted lighting Chanukah candles, they wanted them to be lit during the time it would engender the maximum publicization of the miracle and thus, they ruled that the candles should be lit at nightfall, which is when it gets dark outside and the candles are clearly visible, and to fill the candles with enough oil that they last for at least a half-hour. This was because in those times, for the half-hour following nightfall, many pedestrians still roamed the streets, and the miracle would be publicized by being seen by passersby. However, after this time when most people were no longer walking in the streets, there would be no one to see the candles and therefore, one needed to make sure to light before this initial half-hour following nightfall had elapsed.
The Opinion of the Rambam and Other Poskim
In the following generations, it was less important to light specifically at nightfall, for in terms of the household, it does not make a difference whether one lights at 5:00 pm or 8:00 pm. However, as mentioned above, the original enactment was to light at nightfall or within the half-hour that followed.
It is for this reason that the Rambam rules that one was delayed and had not lit the Chanukah candles within the initial half-hour following nightfall may not do so anymore that night. (This ruling has much to do with how the Rambam deciphers the Gemara, but we cannot delve into that further at the moment.)
On the other hand, Tosafot (Shabbat 21b) quote Rabbeinu Yitzchak who rules that there is no longer a need to light at nightfall; one may even preferably light at a later hour. Nevertheless, Tosafot quote Rabbeinu Yosef Porat who disagrees and maintains that even nowadays, Chanukah candles should preferably be lit at nightfall, however, if one missed this time, one may light even at the end of the night, for there is ultimately publicization of the miracle even at a late hour.
The Opinion of the Rashba and Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch
The Rashba (in his commentary on Shabbat ibid.) rules that even nowadays, one should strive to light Chanukah candles precisely at nightfall or at least within the half-hour that follows. However, if, for whatever reason, if this time has passed and one has not yet lit, one may do so all night long since the Mitzvah remains active until dawn, although the original enactment was to light at nightfall. According to the Rashba, there is no halachic distinction between our generation and the original enactment for in both cases, one must strive to light at nightfall or the half-hour that follows, however, if one has not done so, one may light all night long.
Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch (Ch. 672) rules in accordance with the Rashba.
The Bottom Line
Therefore, one should strongly attempt to light Chanukah candles at nightfall (approximately fifteen minutes past sunset) or at least within the initial half-hour after nightfall. If, for whatever reason, one missed lighting at this time, one may light with a blessing all night long.
In his youth, Maran zt”l would deliver a nightly Torah class to over one hundred laymen for approximately three hours. He understood that if he went home to light the Chanukah candles at the proper time, there would not be as big of an audience as usual for the class. He would therefore give his class at the regular time and when he concluded, everyone went home to light Chanukah candles joyfully. However, if there is no such need, one should try one’s utmost to light specifically at nightfall, as we have discussed.
