EREV SHABBAT CHANUKAH
When possible, public Menorah lightings should still be conducted after Plag Hamincha, despite the busy hour.
The Minyan for Mincha is scheduled earlier than usual, to allow for the Menorah at home to be lit after Mincha. Nevertheless, Mincha should be late enough for the Shul Menorah to be lit after Plag Hamincha.
One should endeavor to daven Mincha with a Minyan before lighting Menorah. [If this is not possible, it is preferable to daven with a Minyan after lighting the Menorah than to daven without a Minyan before lighting the Menorah.]
The Menorah at home is lit just before the Shabbat candles are lit. The lighting of the Menorah should be scheduled so that it does not interfere with the lighting time for the Shabbat candles.
Being that the Menorah is lit on Erev Shabbat earlier than usual, one should ensure that there is enough fuel for the flames to burn for half-hour after Tzeit Hakochavim. Similarly, a longer-lasting Shamash should be used.
On Erev Shabbat, one need not sit next to the flames for half-hour.
The Menorah should be situated so that its flames are not fanned or extinguished by the opening or closing of any doors or windows, or by people passing by.
Everything beneath a lit Menorah becomes a “Bassis L’Issur” on Shabbat, and may not be moved. If the place where the Menorah is situated needs to be used, one can prevent the chair or table from becoming a Bassis L’Issur by placing a Challah or bottle of wine on it from sunset until Tzeit Hakochavim.
Similarly, one may place the Menorah on a tray which is not designated exclusively for use with a candelabra or candlesticks, and place a Challah or bottle of wine on the tray from sunset until Tzeit Hakochavim.
In both of these situations, the chair or tray – along with all of its contents – may be moved on Shabbat, but only once the location is actually needed. The chair or tray may not be moved simply for the sake of protecting the Menorah.
The chair or tray should be moved carefully, as the Menorah itself cannot be directly handled.
Were the Menorah to fall whilst being moved, one would not be able to catch it or support it directly with his hands. Furthermore, if the flames are still burning, and they are fueled by oil, one must be careful that the liquid doesn’t rise or fall and cause the flame to become bigger or smaller.
Another option: The Menorah (as well as the Bassis beneath it) may be moved by a non-Jew – but only if one had in mind (and preferably verbalized) at the onset of Shabbat that a non-Jew would move it after the flames extinguished.
