Reply To: Chanukah Thoughts

There is an argument between Tosfas in Maseches Shabbos where he says that we don’t light for each individual because you won’t know how many days and individuals we have, so every day they all light one and the Rambam in begining of the 4th perek Hilchas Chanukah says that baal habayis lights ccording the days and people. The RMA SA O’CH 671 says that everyone lights according to the number of the current day. So why does the Rambam pasken that the baal habayis lights for everyone? The Bais Halevi explains that uf there is no main mitzva there is no hidur mitzva. He brings a proof from the halacha of the skins that are on the orlah. When it interferes with the milah you must return to cut it on shabbos, but it does not interfere with the milah then the milah is done already and this would be a hidur mitzva and ypu are not allowed to return for it. Similarly the lighting by each individual is a hiddur mitzva and therefore the one who does the main mitzva must light it. The RMA might hold that this is not a hidur in the candle lighting itself so this is how the chazal instituted the mitzva in the first place so everyone can light by themselves.