Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email - 2 Shevat/Jan 4

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Can the Shabbos candles be lit before the menorah? On Erev Shabbos, the menorah is lit before the Shabbos candles. If a woman was planning to light the menorah and she mistakenly lit the Shabbos candles first (and accepted Shabbos), she must appoint a shaliach to light the menorah on her behalf. The shaliach recites the first brocha for her, and she can recite the other two brochos. In a typical case where the man will be lighting the menorah and the woman will be lighting the Shabbos candles, there seems to be no halachic preference as to which should take place first. Nonetheless, Kabbalastic sources say that the menorah should be lit first under all circumstances. It is preferable to daven Mincha before lighting the menorah. The service in the Beis Hamikdosh which corresponds to Mincha (the Korbon Tamid) took place prior to lighting the menorah of the Beis Hamikdosh. Correspondingly, Tefillas Mincha should take place before the menorah is lit at home. [שו"ע תרעט, א, שע"ת א, ומשנ"ב א; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 2] All credit goes to Dirshu | 911 County Line Rd. , Suite 205, Lakewood, NJ 08701