HALACHA HOW-TO

Lighting Hanukkah Candles

One of the perennial Hanukkah questions: If I am going out to friends or family for dinner, where should I light candles? Well, what's absolutely clear is that you should not light in your host's home. The mitzvah of Hanukkah is to light in your own home. The optimal thing would be to light in your own home at the regular Candlelighting time (about ½ hour after sundown) prior to going out. There is no need, at that time, for anyone to remain home after you light. The fact that passersby will see the lights is sufficient. If this timing doesn't work, then there are 3 other possible ways to handle the situation (presented in order of preference):
1. If there will still be passersby on the street when you arrive home, light when you get home.
2. If not, but there will be people in your home (other than yourself) to see the lights when you get home, you can still light at this point.
3. If neither of the first 2 pertains, then you can light as early as vjbn dkp (plag mincha), which is about 3:45 p.m. this coming week. Of course, you would have to use enough oil or big enough candles, that the lights would remain lit until at least 5:45 [Shulchan Aruch 672:1].

If none of the above works, you should light at home without reciting the bracha when you get home.

Please keep in mind as well, that as long as one adult member of your household lights in your house, you're covered too (as long as you are aware that this is taking place) [Shulchan Aruch 677:1].