Sources Prepared by R. Aaron Alexander, Associate Dean, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies Did God Command Us To Light Hanukkah Candles? ‫תלמוד בבלי מסכת שבת דף כג עמוד א‬ ‫מאי מברך? מברך אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר של חנוכה‬ ?‫והיכן צונו‬ .‫ מלא תסור‬+‫דברים יז‬+ :‫רב אויא אמר‬ .‫ (דברים לב) שאל אביך ויגדך זקניך ויאמרו לך‬:‫רב נחמיה אמר‬ .‫ ומפרישין אותו ערום ובין השמשות‬,‫ הדמאי מערבין בו ומשתתפין בו ומברכין עליו ומזמנין עליו‬:‫מתיב רב עמרם‬ !‫ וליכא‬...‫ והיה מחניך קדוש‬+‫דברים כג‬+ ‫ היכי מברך? והא בעינן‬,‫ הכא כי קאי ערום‬,‫ כל מדרבנן בעי ברכה‬:‫ואי אמרת‬ .‫ לא בעי ברכה‬- ‫ ספק דדבריהם‬,‫ בעי ברכה‬- ‫ ודאי דדבריהם‬:‫אמר אביי‬ !‫ ובעי ברכה‬,‫ דספק דבריהם הוא‬,‫והא יום טוב שני‬ .‫התם כי היכי דלא לזילזולי בה‬ B. Bavli, Shabbat 23a What blessing is said (over the Hanukkah candles)? This: Blessed...Who sanctified us by commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah. And where does God command this?! Rav Avia said: [It follows] from, "You shall act in accordance with the instructions given you and the ruling handed down to you; you must not deviate from the verdict that they announce to you either to the right or to the left." (Deut. 17:11) R. Nehemiah claims it is derived from this: "Remember the days of old, Consider the years of ages past; Ask your Father, he will inform you; Your elders, they will tell you." (Deut. 32:7) R. Amram objected: Produce that may not have been tithed: a) can be used for an ‘eruv' [the communal meal to allow carrying in a communal courtyard] b) and for joint ownership [to allow carrying from a courtyard to an alleyway]; c) a blessing is pronounced over it (Ha-Motzi), d) and communal grace after meals is recited after it, and it may be separated by a naked person [which suggests that it is a rabbinic commandment that a blessing shouldn't be recited over], and even during twilight. But if you say that every Rabbinical [commandment] requires a blessing, here, when one stands naked, how can s/he pronounce a blessing?! Don't we require this verse, "Since the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you, let your camp be holy. let God not find anything unseemly among you and [therefore] turn away from you." (Deut. 23:15) [And if this person is naked] does it not ignore this verse?! Abaye says: A Rabbinical law that we are certain about [i.e., Hanukkah candles] requires a blessing, whereas a doubtful Rabbinical law does not [the Demai case]. But what of the second day of Festivals, which is a Rabbinical [institution] based on doubt, and yet it requires a [kiddush] blessing? [Abaye answers this challenge]: It [was instituted] in order that it should not be treated lightly.