May the hanukkiah be lit in one place and moved to another?

Question: A sick person is lying in bed and cannot get up. May the hanukkiah be brought to him so he can light it, and then moved to its place?

Answer:

No.

The Ben Ish Chai rules that the hanukkiah must be lit in the place where it is meant to stay.

Therefore one should not light next to the sick person’s bed and then move the hanukkiah elsewhere.

What is the solution?

If the sick person cannot get up, he can appoint an agent to light in the proper place.

The Ben Ish Chai adds that the sick person can say the blessing, and the agent lights immediately in front of him in the same room.

The rule: the lighting must be done in the place where the candles fulfill their mitzvah.