Hagr"y Yosef: do not light candles in middle of 'Seder'

In the shiur he delivered yesterday (Tuesday) evening at the Shalabim yeshiva, the Rishon Hagaon R' Yitzchak Yosef said that the yeshiva students should continue the seder bet as usual on Hanukkah to prevent bitul Torah, and not stop it for kindling.

"Yeshiva students will light a menorah only after the seder," ruled Hagr"y, noting that this was the custom of his father Harav Ovadia Yosef, who was would travel and give shiurim across the country to increase Torah, and would return late in the evening and only then would light Hanukkah candles. Regarding avrechim who sit and learn during these hours, Hagr"y said that they will light at the end of the seder or tell their wife to light.

"We must continue to learn as usual on seder beis and not stop the learning for kindling, because it causes bitul Torah – since afterwards they dance and sing and do not return to study as usual. Therefore they should be careful to study as usual, and then perform the lighting," said Hagr"y, adding that he introduced this throughout the years at his yeshiva Chazon Ovadia.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!