Q. Re- prior question 1967, on an elderly single and bed-bound convalescent patient at a retirement nursing home or hospital, that Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that if there is a minyan and they light a kosher menorah in that site, they should have in mind to include all the patients at the same location who are unable to light. The Rov added that the room-bound patients may not be necessarily be considered as dwellers of the whole institution. It would then be better, if the one lighting the menorah, should be makneh or legally transfer a minimal amount of the value of the lights, to the ownership of all Jewish patients at that institution, even if they are not present at the menorah lighting ceremony.
I have two questions.
1) Can you light the menorah for elderly or ill people who don't know much about Chanuka and they may not be aware that they have to light candles?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that as long as they are believers in Hashem and that he gave us a Torah, you can have them in mind, and the will comply. In reality, since there is no bracha in vain issue, since you are lighting anyway, there is no problem in having everyone in mind and being makneh a minimal amount of the value of the lights to all.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
