Rockville, MD – Hanukkah celebrations became dangerous for an elderly Montgomery County woman who was critically injured in a menorah fire. Montgomery County fire officials report that an elderly woman has been critically burned from a flash fire started by a menorah.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
It happened around 9:30 p.m. last night in a 6th floor apartment in the 11800 block of Rockville Pike. Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames.
Fire officials say the woman has been transported to an area burn center and is in stable condition. No one else was reportedly hurt in the incident.
The elderly, weak or infirm, or very young should Not be allowed to use candles ( or oil) without total supervision. These categories of people are at risk, and should only use electric menorah. Electricity is the same, just a different form of fire………..thats what they tell us when we can’t flip on the lights on shabbos, right?
An electric menora would be problematic since the power supply is not present at the time of lighting, thus not being “ta’aseh velo min ha’asuy”
A battery powered menora would probably be good with clear bulbs, but I don’t believe they are on the market. A safe & freilichen chanuka to all!
Would you rather that an elderly and possibly senile yiddeshe nashama not fully comply “ta’aseh velo min ha’asuy” or risk their life, not to say the lives of many others, by using a real candle. At some point it is almost irrational and certainlhy no daas Torah to insist upon a literal application of the mitzvah when their is a risk of picuach nefesh. Lets get our priotities straight.