To The Editor:
The purpose of this note is to bring to your attention a
serious halachic problem which might occur when going
away to a hotel for Shabbos or Yom Tov, the problem being
where to light candles.
I have spoken to many poskim and individuals involved
in kashrus organizations. The problem is that hotels
do not allow lighting in the room or at the table, but
usually set up a place where the candles are out of the way
or in the hall. "This practice is not in accordance with
halacha (since these candles neither illuminate the
Shabbos table nor any other darkened room) and any blessing
made there is, unfortunately, in vain." Remah and Mishnah
Berurah
One kashrus organization tries to put the table where
the candles will be lit in a location where people will pass
so they might gain hana'a from it. Rabbi Yaakov
Kamenetsky used to tell his wife to turn on the bathroom
light in the room and then go down and light the candles in
the hotel so as to alleviate the brocho in vain.
Please post this in your shul, at conventions,
conferences, and any place where people may read it.
Thank you and tizku leMitzvos.
If you have any questions please feel free to email us at:
moshe@cheerful.com
