It is astounding that Gedolhadorah, Sam2 , and Binyanadead think that they can simply shlug up the Mishnah Brura and Chatam Sofer based on their own interpretation of the Gemora and Shulchan Aruch.
1. The Gemorah and Shulchan Aruch are discussing the fact that women have an obligation to fulfill the obligation of lighting menorah because they where included in the nes. What does that have to do with the fulfillment of the households unit of mhadrim min hamihadrin l’daat haRambam?
2. The Mishna Brura was reporting the normative custom he was not being mchadish it. The M”B (and the Chatam Sofer) where giving an explanation for the widespread practice of women not lighting. Widespread practice when upheld by the Gedolim Sets Halachic precedent. The chidush is to have women and girls light. If you follow accepted Poskim who held they have enough of a Halachic basis to break with the normative custom (Rabbi Solovaichik quoted above) fine but don’t try to revise reality.
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