If one finds himself in prison or in a hospital over Chanukah, or in some other place where it is forbidden to light candles, would one be able to fulfill the mitzvah of Chanukah candles by lighting a cigarette – if it is able to stay red hot for half-an-hour?
The Shulchan Aruch (end of 673) writes: If one lit Chanukah candles and they went out within half-an-hour, there is no need to relight them. The Achronim ask, that even if there is no obligation in terms of ner Chanukah, one should need to relight the candles based on chasad. Surely, he is no worse than one who has two entrances – where the halachah is that one must light by both. In our case, if one doesn’t relight candles that go out within half-an-hour, people may think he never lit?
The Beis HaLevi answers (Al HaTorah, Inyonei Chanukah): We are talking about a case where the candles didn’t go out completely, it’s just that the flame went very dim (like the way a coal burns), since there is still something burning there is no problem of chasad, however, one doesn’t fulfil the mitzvah of ner Chanukah.
Based on the above, since a cigarette only has a dim red fire, it wouldn’t be considered a ner [flame], and one wouldn’t fulfill the mitzvah of ner Chanukah. Additionally, if the cigarette isn’t fanned, blown etc. it will go out, therefore, it is like a case of lighting a candle which is not fit to burn for half-an-hour, where one doesn’t fulfill his obligation.
If one finds himself in such a situation, the best thing to do is to light a flashlight, and rely on the opinions who hold that a flashlight has a din of fire and is good enough for Chanukah (Shevet HaLevi, R’ Nissim Karelitz etc.)
(Based on a Teshuvah from R’ Yehuda Aryeh HaLevi Dunner shlita)
