Q. See question above. Does the fact that the chandelier and other electric lights were on in the room make any difference, since after all there was light?
A. Poskim disagree if the penalty applies also in our days when the room is lighted anyway. Avnei Yoshfo (1: 55: 6) maintains that it does, since after all she did not comply with her mitzva and obligation. He also quotes Eben Yisroel that even if the husband lighted the electric lights with the intention that they should serve as Shabbos lights, the penalty applies. However, if the wife turned them on it does not. Shevet Halevi (5: 33) disagrees.
Kinyan Torah (6: 9: 3) quoting P'ri Megodim, adds another reason why it applies, since even when one light out of many that the woman usually lights was missing or forgotten, the penalty is given. Although Biur Halocho (263: 1) is lenient.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that it applies if indeed the assessment was, as mentioned in the prior question, that there was negligence in arriving late.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
Important Numbers
