Issur Melachah for Women
20. The minhag is that women do not do melachah as long as the candles are burning (שו"ע סי' תר"ע ס"א ). This has not been accepted as a true issur, only as a minhag. Thus, it is not overly strict, and in a case of need, a woman may be meikel (הגריש"א, פניני חנוכה עמ' קל"ב ).
21. Women. This minhag is specifically for women since the Chanukah miracle came about through women (מ"ב סק"ג ). According to most poskim, the reason for this minhag is to make it clear that the candles’ light may not be used (מ"ב סק"ד ). Some say it is to emphasize the fact that Chanukah was established as a time of Yom Tov and praise and gratitude to Hashem (לבוש, הובא בכף החיים סק"ו ).
Duration of the Issur
22. The issur melachah applies for the minimum amount of time that it is assur to derive benefit from the candles, i.e., when they are lit in the house, a half hour (מ"ב סק"ד ) after tzeis hakochavim, even for those who light at shekiyah (ביה"ל סי' תרע"ב ד"ה ובלבד ).
Which Melachos Are Ossur?
23. Some say the melachos not to be done when the candles are lit are the same ones that are assur on Chol Hamoed (הגר"ש וואזנר, קובץ מבית לוי ח"י עמ' ג', הגר"ח קנייבסקי, תורת המועדים סק"ח אות ג'). Others say they are the same melachos as the ones women have a minhag not to do on Rosh Chodesh (חזו"א, הגר"נ קרליץ, נר חנוכה פ"א הע ' מ"ד ). Yet others say the minhag is that women do not do any activity that requires their focus (הגריש"א, פניני חנוכה עמ' קל"א, שו"ת רבבות אפרים ח"ו סי' ת"ט אות ב'). This may be because of the second reason (above, 21) given for this minhag, so that they do not take their focus off praise and gratitude to Hashem. We will list some examples.
24. Laundry, ironing. Women should not do laundry or ironing, which is assur on Chol Hamoed, during the time of the minhag not to do melachah (הגר"ש וואזנר ועוד כנ"ל ).
25. Sewing. Women should not sew during this time. This includes embroidering, knitting, crocheting, etc. even just for pleasure (הנ"ל ).
26. Baking, cooking. Most poskim hold just like baking and cooking are not included in the issur melachah on Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed, they are not included in the minhag not to do melachah on Chanukah. Some hold the minhag is that women also do not cook and bake during the time they do not do melachah on Chanukah (הגריש"א, הגרי"י פישר שכך הוא מנהג ירושלים ). Even for those who do not cook or bake, some allow frying donuts, blintzes, or other things that will be eaten at that time (הגרשז"א, הליכות שלמה חנוכה פט"ו ארחות הלכה הע' 14, תשוה"נ חנוכה עמ' ל"ו ).
27. Washing the floor. Women should not do strenuous activities, e.g., washing the floor or doing lots of dishes (הגר"ש וואזנר שם, הגר"נ קרליץ, הגריש"א ). They may wash a few dishes.
28. Going to a store. Most poskim hold women may make purchases at a grocery store and the like during the time of the minhag not to do melachah. Some say this is also assur since it takes their focus away from the Chanukah candles (הגריש"א ).
Woman Who Is out of the House
29. Lighting outside the house. Even if a man lights outside his house, e.g., at the courtyard or building entrance, and the candles are not visible from inside, it is considered as if he lit inside and his wife and daughters should not do melachah in the house for a half hour (הגריש"א, אשרי האיש ח"ג פל"ג אות ב').
30. Woman who works outside the house. It could be that the minhag not to do melachah does not apply to a woman who works outside the house and is not present when her husband lights. [However, according to the second reason above (21), the minhag not to do melachah applies to women outside the house. If possible, she should get someone who can do work at that time to cover for her (הגריש"א, אשרי האיש שם אות ו').]
