Lighting at a Closed Entrance During Hanukkah
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Question
I have two entrances to my apartment, both facing different courtyards. One entrance is the main one throughout the year, and that's where I light the Hanukkah candles. To protect the area from the wind, I surrounded the entire entrance with glass doors, making this entrance closed to outside passage for the entire Hanukkah. However, I can still pass through the entrance, but not out to the street, only to this enclave. My question is whether there is a deficiency in this since during these days it is not an entrance at all. And perhaps also a question about the mezuzah, which needs to be reaffixed after Hanukkah.
Answer
Hello and Happy Hanukkah
The entrance remains obligated in a mezuzah because the doors you placed are temporary, and like a locked entrance for a time, it retains the status of an entrance.
Accordingly, the place retains the virtue of being an 'entrance' surrounded by mitzvot, Hanukkah candle, and mezuzah.
All this applies if the entrance was completely sealed by the doors you placed, but according to your description, it is still possible to pass through the entrance, and certainly, there is an obligation for a mezuzah.