Q. Is there a special inyan to light candles or oil lamps at the amud in a shul? Not that many shuls do that these days, why?
A. Shulchan Aruch (151: 9) writes that it is tradition to illuminate our shuls with lights in their honor. They are compared to the lights in the Beis Hamikdosh. (Yalkut Behaaloscha, Medresh Rabba - Vayikra 31: 4, Reishis Chochmo 14: 64-66).
Midrashim and Sifrei Mussar explain in length the importance of lighting candles in shul, as they bring about the strengthening of good mazal and the abundance of brocho. (See Piskei Teshuvos 151: 18).
Chassidim and Anshei Maase, would try to light those candles themselves instead of the shamash. In some places they would sell the honor to ignite those candles (Peleh Yoetz - E. Hadlaka, Darchei Chaim Veshalom 103).
Poskim debate whether, the above applies also to the electric lights common today by the amud or one should make the effort to kindle candles and oil. (Mishne Halochos 5: 70, Chelkas Yaakov 1: 141, Beer Moshe 7: 115, Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1: 702).
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that each shul should follow its own minhogim.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
