Window facing the forest

I live in an apartment building, and all my widows are facing the forest. It’s very rear that anyone walks there and looks at my windows, especially when it’s dark. My parent were always particular to light Chanukah candles on the windowsill, and not in the main entrance to the building. Do I have to continue lighting my Chanukah candles in the window, or should I light in the main entrance to the apartment building, which is facing the street, where a lot of people will be able to see my candles?

There is a disagreement between Rashi and Tosaphot (commentaries to the Talmud), if it is acceptable to light Chanukkah candles at the entrance to the building. The Shulchan Oruch rules according to the opinion of the Tosaphot, which states that one should light at the entrance to the courtyard (or in the main entrance to the building, which is what most people have today). However, what is customary today is to prefer to light Chanukkah candles on the windowsill. This is according to the Biur Halachah and the Chazon Ish, who say that one should take Rashi’s opinion into account.

Thus, you could light in the main entrance to the building, and that way you would fulfill this commandment according to the opinion of the Tosaphot, and according to the ruling of the Shulchan Oruch. However, someone who wants to take Rashi’s opinion into account as well, which is the accepted practice today, would have to light on the windowsill. This is also acceptable according to the Tosaphot, who rule that one does fulfill one’s obligation by lighting inside the house.

Tractate Shabbos 21b, with the commentaries of Rashi and Tosaphot; Shulchan Oruch, section Orach Chaim, chapter 671, §5; Azamra LiShmechah newsletter, #117