The Time for Ma’ariv
23. Some daven Ma’ariv earlier than usual on Motzei Shabbos of Chanukoh in order to light as close as possible to shki’oh/tzeis (הגר"א, מעשה רב אות רל"ז, וכך נהג הגר"ש סלנט ) in accordance with the opinion of the Rambam that one may not make a brochoh more than a half-hour after the zman to light. Nevertheless, one may not light before it is definitely night chas vesholom (ביאה"ל סי' רצ"ג ד"ה ג' כוכבים ).
24. Others wonder how one may leave Shabbos – which is de’oraiso – to fulfill a mitzvoh derabonon (כ"ק מרן גאב"ד ירושלים ). Therefore, everyone should daven Ma’ariv at his usual time, be it tzeis or Rabbeinu Tam, and light immediately afterwards (חזו"א, אשי ישראל עמ' תש"צ, שו"ת אג"מ ח"ד סי' ס"ב, הגר"ש וואזנר, קובץ מבית לוי ח"י ). They hold that the lighting times do not apply on Motzei Shabbos (חי' חת"ס שבת, הגרי"ז הלוי ).
25. One should prepare his menorah as much as possible on Erev Shabbos to minimize delay on Motzei Shabbos. He should hurry home to light right after davening.
Which Comes First, Havdoloh or Lighting?
26. Some poskim hold that one should first make Havdoloh and a brochoh acharonoh on the wine (תשוה"נ חנוכה עמ' כ' הע' כ"ה ), and only then light the menoroh since Havdoloh is todir (ט"ז תויו"ט פר"ח ודה"ח ).
27. Others hold that one should light first and make Havdoloh afterwards (שו"ע רמ"א מג"א א"ר גר"א ובית מאיר ) in order to delay the end of Shabbos as much as possible (מ"ב סק"ב ); until Havdoloh is made, there is still a trace of the Shabbos neshomoh’s kedushoh (א"ר סק"א ). Additionally, pirsumei niso takes precedence.
28. Some say that all agree one who lights outside must light before Havdoloh since lighting the menoroh is the first mitzvoh he encounters upon returning home from shul (מאורות נתן סי' ק"ה ), at least if the menoroh was already prepared and ready to be lit (וכך נהג הגרי"ח זוננפלד ).
29. Some say that in shul, the menoroh should be lit before Havdoloh in accordance with the Shulchon Oruch, and at home, it should be lit after Havdoloh. Ultimately, either approach has support from poskim.
30. The menoroh is lit in shul after Kaddish Tiskabeil, before Oleinu (מנהגי וורמיזא וכך נהוג עלמא ). Some say to light before Kaddish Tiskabeil since the lighting in shul requires a tzibbur and after Tiskabeil, there is no longer a status of ‘tzibbur’ (הגר"ח הלוי, תשוה"נ ח"ב סי' של"ו ).
Mitzvoh Goreres Mitzvoh
31. Some light the shamash for the menoroh from the Havdoloh candle – since it was used for the mitzvoh of Havdoloh, it is fitting for it to be used for another mitzvoh (מנהגי פפד"מ, וכעין מה שמבואר במ"ב תרפ"א סק"א ).
