Yungeleit at the Kolel L’horaah Ma’asis in Crown Heights heard a shiur Tuesday on a contentious halachic question that arises every year amid Chabad’s annual Chanukah activities.
Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, a shliach in Buffalo and a respected talmid chochom and author, spoke at the kolel on the afteroon of 19 Kislev, addressing the question of whether there’s a valid halahic basis for making a bracha during menorah lightings in public spaces, which take place neither at home or in shul.
Rabbi Greenberg traced the early reasons given for the practice of lighting the menorah in shul, arguing that many of them could be extended and applied to any public space as well. He noted that while the Rebbe appears to have never addressed the question directly, the Rebbe didn’t remark upon and in fact answered amen to brachos made at public menorah lightings that were broadcast via satellite.
Rabbi Greenberg concluded with a thought on Yud Tes Kislev and wished the yungeleit hatzlacha in their study of halacha.
The Kolel, which is located in the Beis Gimpel Shul, 309 New York Avenue in Crown Heights, is led by Rosh Kolel Rabbi Sholom Ber Shuchat, Sgan Rosh Kolel Rabbi Shraga Homnick and was founded by Rabbi Shloime Greenwald.
