Chanukas HaBayis

Chanukas HaBayis Based on Rabbi Joshua Flug

1. This outline will discuss the minhag to hold a chanukas habayis, dedication upon building a new home, present various sources for this minhag and as well as whether this minhag applies in chutz la'aretz.

Sources for the minhag

1. Chanukas HaBayis as an exemption from war
   • The Torah states that one of the exemptions from war is one who built a house ולא חנכו. (Devarim 20,5)
   • Rashi (1040-1105) writes that ולא חנכו means that one didn't live in the house.
   • R. David Kimchi (Radak, 1160-1235) suggests that the root חנך means to begin with activities such as eating and as such ולא חנכו means that one hasn't eaten there yet. He then notes that from here developed the minhag to hold a seudah the first time one eats in a new home. (Sefer haShorashim)
2. Shabbos Bereishis as a form of Chanukas HaBayis
   • R. Achai Gaon (8th century) writes that the concept of HaShem resting on the seventh day can be understood by comparing it to someone who builds a house and when he is finished, he holds a הילולא. (Sheiltos 1)
   • Netziv (1816-1893) notes that some have the girsa כלילא. Netziv writes that it is the same idea. (HaEmek haShailah 1,2)
   • R. Malkiel Tannenbaum (1847-1910) suggests that the two girsaos reflect two different kinds of celebrations. There is one celebration that takes place when the work is complete. This is indicated by the word הילולא. There is another celebration that takes place when one moves in and uses the house. This is indicated by the word כלילא. (Divei Malchiel 1,3)
3. Building for the Purpose of Avodas HaShem
   • The Zohar (Parsha Tazria) states that one who builds a home, it should be built for the purpose of Avodas HaShem.
   • R. Yeshaya Horowitz (Shelah, c. 1565-1630) writes that we see from the fact that Yehuda was sent ahead to build a beis medrash in Goshen that when one builds a home, one should see to it that there is a space that is dedicated to limud HaTorah. (Shnei Luchos haBris Parshas Vayigash)
   • R. Mordechai Winkler (1845-1932), in discussing whether it is permissible to hold a chanukas habayis during the Nine Days, suggests that if one builds one's home with the Shelah's directive in mind, then the chanukas habayis can be viewed as a siyyum of a dvar mitzvah. However, he notes that since it can be held at a different time, one should not hold it during the Nine Days. (Levushei Mordechai Orach Chaim 1,101)

Is there a mitzvah to perform a chanukas habayis?

1. Tashbetz Katan (170) quotes Maharam of Rutenburg (c. 1215-1293) writes that on Chanukah, there is an obligation of hallel and hoda'ah, not seudah, and the chanukas habayis factor (of Chanukah) would only make it a seudas reshus.
2. While Maharam's comments are addressing commemorating the chanukas Beis HaMikdash by the Chashmonaim years after it happened, R. Shlomo Luria (Maharshal, 1510-1573) quotes Maharam as saying that in general, the dedication of a home is only a seudas hareshus, especially when it is filled with frivolity and indulgences. However, if a G-d-fearing individual wants to establish his home as a place of Torah and mitzvos and holds a seudah for that purpose which includes divrei Torah, then it is a seudas mitzvah. (Yam shel Shlomo Bava Kama 7,37)
3. R. Yair Bachrach (1639-1702) also writes that if there are divrei Torah or talmidei chachamim at such an event, it is a considered a seudas mitzvah. However, he notes that if one takes this approach, one is really watering down the concept of seudas mitzvah because every public seudah is inevitably going to have a talmid chacham present. (Chavas Yair 70)
4. R. Yaakov Chaim Sofer (1870-1939) offers a possible answer to R. Bachrach's question. He notes that Maharshal's comments are consistent with the Zohar. There is something unique about dedicating one's home to avodas HaShem. As such, one can argue that a proper chanukas habayis is not just a generic seudas mitzvah because there are divrei Torah, but there is something specific about having a seudas to dedicate one's home to avodas HaShem.