This past Thursday, Kollel Anash of Crown Heights hosted a shiur by Harav Avrohom Osdoba, a senior member of the Crown Heights Beis Din. Harav Osdoba also serves as a senior staff member of the central Lubavitch Yeshiva at 770. 

The shiur was on the topic of Hadlokas Neiros Shabbos – the mitzva of lighting Shabbos candles. Harav Osdoba delivered an in-depth shiur in the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch; clarifying when melachah may be done after candle lighting, however before sunset, under compelling situations. 

Harav Osdoba also addressed the concept of lighting of candles after the advent of electric lights. He discussed the practice that some people have, before lighting, to turn (off and) on the dining room lights. Thereby the beracha goes on both – the candles and the electric lights.

He further pointed out that when one is in a situation where they cannot light candles, it would be better to use a battery-operated light (e.g. flashlight) to fulfill the mitzva, than to use standard electric lights (e.g. ceiling lamp). Since in the former case, one is creating the electric current from anew, rather than merely connecting to a preexisting source of electricity.

***

This year marks the fourteenth year since the establishment of Kollel Anash. Since its inception, Kollel Anash has been dedicated to assisting young married men master the laws of Hilchos Shabbos and Taharas Hamishpachah. The halachos are studied in-depth, from the sources in Gemara and Rishonim all the way down to halacha lemaaseh. The Kollel also has a unique three-year track for studying the halachos of Choshen Mishpat.

The kollel is located at Congregation Anash 770 Montgomery Street and is under the leadership of Rabbi Michoel Lerner. The Kollel was founded and is sponsored by Rabbi Dovid Fischer, Rov of Congregation Anash. 

Watch Rabbi Osdoba’s shiur here: