It is well known that the minhag in BMG and across Lakewood is to light the Chanukah licht by the “Rav Aharon zman” of 23 minutes after Shkia. How did this minhag come about, and is it exactly 23 minutes after shkia?
The time of hadlaka is based upon different opinions of the Rishonim. The Shulchan Aruch paskens that Tzeis Hakochavim is the correct time to light, which is the practice among many members of Klal Yisroel today. However, the Vilna Gaon, following the Rambam’s opinion, says that one should light immediately at Shkia, which is the Minhag of Brisk until this day.
Taking both Shittos into consideration, Rav Aharon looked for a zman that satisfied both. Considering the Chofetz Chaim’s opinion that even those who light at Tzeis Hakochavim can begin lighting a half hour before, as well as the halacha that by lighting within a half hour of Shkia one has fulfilled that Shita as well, lighting between 20 and 30 minutes after Shkia aligns with all opinions:
- It is still within a half hour of Shkia, and
- It is already within a half hour of Tzeis Hakochavim
Although the number 23 became famous, Rav Aharon’s chiddush seems to apply to any time between 20 and 30 minutes after Shkia. In fact, this timing even satisfies the Shittos of the Rashba and the Ran, both of whom say that hadlaka should take place at Shkia Shniya.
So how did it come to be so specifically 23 minutes? R’ Chaim Englard hung up the signs in yeshiva. R’ Aharon told him to put up a sign saying lighting is between 20 and 25 minutes. So he wrote 23 minutes!
This is basically the chabad zman and alot of polish chassidim who follow the shulchan aruch horav as posek achron it is not Rav Arons chiddush as these others have been doing this many years prior to him with the only difference how long it should burn as they don’t do 72 minute zman they hold shitas hagaonim which is based on shaos zmanios which fluctuates between 41 and 49 minutes after shkia till tzeis
Your ‘e not answering why and how the “23 minute” Zman came to be. Seems clear that the Lakewood Zman is the WHOLE half hour window between 20 and 30 minutes (after Shkia).
Perhaps an innovation of the sign writer?