Re: Lighting Neros on Yom Tov

R"n Boublil wrote:
> To continue, according to Rav Chaim David HaLevy, the more
> lights the merrier.  Following his ruling and explanations,
> I have made a point of actually having more electric lights
> on than in the past.

I easily can see how additional electric lights will accomplish this. 
But candles? If all you have is candles, then for sure, more candles 
means more light. But if even two or three electric lights are on, 
then the candle light is ineffective and negligible.

However, perhaps we can distinguish two concepts: the light which the 
candles provide, and the beauty of having lit candles burning.

If a person truly appreciates the beauty of having candles, then 
perhaps that can justify the melacha, just as one can cook a large 
pot of food even though it won't taste any better than a small pot, 
but it would *look* better when on the serving plate.

On the other hand, that example is allowed only when no extra acts of 
melacha are being performed. To do additional acts of melacha 
(lighting extra candles) when they only add esthetic beauty but zero 
practical light, could be problematic.

Rabbi Halevy is certainly of a stature to disagree with Rabbi 
Auerbach if he sees fit. But it seems to me that if Rabbi Auerbach is 
hesitant to allow lighting a blazing avukah for havdala, he would 
also be hesitant to allow lighting for the beauty of candles in an 
electrically-lit room. He seems to require a level of tzorech which 
rises above esthetics to the level of practicality.

Akiva Miller

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