Laws of Chanukah

1. In Siman 676 the Shulchan Aruch quotes a halacha that one who did not light Chanucah lights, and will not be lighting them and they will not be lit at his home, he should, upon seeing the Chanucah lights of others, pronounce the brochos Sheaso Nisim and, if it is the first night, Shechecheyanu.
2. This implies that if others would be lighting at his home i.e. his wife or family, he would not recite these brochos.
3. In Siman 677 it says that even if one’s wife is lighting at home, if he is in a place where there are no Chanucah lights, he should light with a brocha, for he should see the Chanucah lights.
4.The poskim feel this is a contradiction and therefore feel that one should light the menorah to see the lights, but not to say the brochos (if his wife is lighting at home.)
5. However if he chooses not to fulfill the obligation with his wife’s lighting he may opt to fulfill the mitzva with his own lighting, in which case, he says all the brochos.
6. The Rema adds that this may be done even if he is able to view other’s lights.
7. The Mishna Brura quotes dissenting opinions that one has automatically fulfilled his obligation which is incumbent upon his home by the lighting of the menorah by his wife and cannot opt to do it on his own.
8. He suggests one of two methods:
a. to light the menorah wherever one might be, but to hear the brochos from someone who is reciting them for his obligation.
b. to light one’s menorah and instruct his wife to plan to light the menorah at home after he has already lit wherever he might be.
9. He further quotes the Chaye Odom who advises the first method for bussinessmen who are away from home.
10. The Aruch HaShulchan insists the custom is always to light one's own menorah and not to fulfill the mitzva with one’s wife’s lighting, when away from home.
11. In a case when one is away from home in a hotel, one should definitely light to be above suspicion, but the brochos depend on the previously mentioned controversy.
12. If, however, one is staying as a guest in the home of one who is also lighting, the following is the halacha.
a. Give a few pennies to the host to become a “partner” in the oil or candles and it is considered partly his. Some say, the host should add extra oil in this case.
b. Preferably, one should still light ones own lights.
c. The guest should be present to hear the brochos recited by the host if only one menorah is being lit.
13. A permanent boarder need not give money to the host for he is automatically included as a member of the household. He may, however, choose to light his own.