Chapter 139:2-3(b)
Chanukah
2. One may not fast during Chanukah. It is, however, permitted to fast and
deliver eulogies on the day before and the day after [Chanukah].
3. Work ("melacha") is permitted on Chanukah (1). Women, however, follow
the custom of refraining from work during the time the Chanukah candles are
burning at home (2). [They should continue this custom] without any
leniency (3).
The reason why women must observe greater stringency [than men] is that the
[Greek's] decrees were harsher for the women. They had decreed that any
Jewish virgin who is getting married, must first have sexual relations with
the Greek governor. Furthermore, a miracle [during that period] was brought
about through a woman (4). [Yehudis,] the daughter of Yochanan, the High
Priest, was very beautiful. The enemy ruler proposed that she cohabit with
him. She told him that she would accede to his wish. [When she came to him]
she fed him dishes of cheese so that he would become very thirsty, and
would desire to drink much wine; [she hoped that he would] become
intoxicated, and sleep soundly. Her plan worked, and [while he was asleep],
she cut off his head and brought it to Jerusalem. When the leader of the
Greek army saw that their ruler had been slain, [he and his army] fled. To
commemorate this miracle, there are some who follow the custom of eating
dairy dishes on Chanukah.
FOOTNOTES:
(1) That is, activities which are prohibited on Shabbos and Yom Tov, are
permitted on Chanukah.
(2) The custom is to refrain from work only for the minimum amount of time
that the candles must burn, which is approximately 30 minutes. As we shall
see, once this minimum time has passed, one may put out the candles or use
them for one's own benefit (Mishna Berura 670:4).
(3) In certain communities, even the men refrain from work while the
candles are burning (Ibid. 670:3).
(4) See Aruch Hashulchan 270:8, who states that the incident involving
Yehudis did not occur precisely at the time of the miracle of Chanukah.
