6/14/2019 15 Shabbat Candle Facts Every Jewish Woman (and Man) Should Know - Shabbat

15 Shabbat Candle Facts Every Jewish Woman

(and Man) Should Know
By Menachem Posner

Shabbat candles are lit by Jewish women and girls (or men, when there are no women present)
18 minutes before sunset every Friday afternoon and on the eve of Jewish holidays, ideally in the
dining room where the festive meal will soon take place.

1. You (Generally) Need to Light Them 18 Minutes Before Sunset

The earliest one may light the Shabbat candles is plag haminchah—one and a quarter halachic
hours before the end of the day—on Friday afternoon. See our Zmanim page for when that is in
your location.

In order to be sure that we do not kindle fire on Shabbat (and so that we bring in Shabbat at least
a bit early), the standard practice is to light the candles at least 18 minutes before the sun sets
and the holy day begins (some communities do so even earlier). On holidays, when it is permitted
to light a new flame from one that was already lit, the candles can be lit even after sunset provided
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that we do not strike a match. When a holiday follows Shabbat or another holiday, the candles
must be lit after nightfall.

Read: Why Are Shabbat Candles Lit 18 Minutes Before Sunset?

2. Most Women Light Two, But Not Everyone

The basic custom is that the woman of the house lights two candles. Many women have the
custom to add an additional candle with the birth of each child or for other reasons.

Read: Why Light Two (Or More) Shabbat Candles?

Shabbat and holiday dinners are ushered in with candle lighting (Photo: Mushka Lightstone).

3. The Rebbe Encouraged Girls to Light as Well

The age-old custom was that young girls also lit candles. This custom was virtually lost in the
poverty and displacement that followed World War I. In 1974, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem

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Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, encouraged all Jewish girls (from approximately three
years of age) to light their own Shabbat and holiday candles with the consent of their parents.

Until marriage, girls light one candle, and the Rebbe encouraged parents to purchase a special
candlestick just for them.

Read: Do Young Girls Light Shabbat Candles?

4. Shabbat Candles Are Part of the Seven Rabbinic Mitzvahs

The Torah enjoins us to “honor the Shabbat and call it a delight.” One element of this “delight” is to
have candles lit. In addition preventing stumbling around in the dark, the added light increases
peacefulness and joy in honor of Shabbat. The Torah clearly tells us that we may not kindle fire on
Shabbat, so the key is to light the delight-giving candles before the onset of the day. Not clearly
mandated in Torah, lighting Shabbat candles is considered one of the seven rabbinic
commandments.

Read: What Are the Seven Rabbinic Mitzvahs?

5. The Candles Take Precedence Over Other Mitzvahs

The Talmud considers it axiomatic that if one only has enough money for either Shabbat candles
or Kiddush wine, the Shabbat candles take precedence. The same applies to one who has to
choose between Shabbat candles or Chanukah candles: the Shabbat candles take priority. Why?
Because they bring peace to the home.

Read: How Do Shabbat Candles Bring Peace?

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6. It’s Ideal to Give Tzedakah Before Lighting

Since no charity can be given on Shabbat day (when money may not be handled), an extra sum is
given beforehand. Also, before we pray to G‑d and ask Him kindly to grant our deepest wishes
(more on that later), it is appropriate to display kindness to others.

Read the Deeper Reason for Charity Before Candle-Lighting

7. It’s Best to Light Where You’ll Eat

The Shabbat candles must be enjoyed, bringing additional light and joy to your Shabbat
experience. That’s why the ideal place to set them up is in the dining room, in view of your
Shabbat dinner table.

Read: What to Expect at a Shabbat Dinner?

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Chaya Simons lighting candles

8. It’s a Woman’s Mitzvah, But Men Do It Too

While the mitzvah of lighting candles is generally performed by the woman—the mainstay of the
Jewish home—it is an obligation for every Jew. If no woman over the age of bat mitzvah is present
to light for the members of the household, the man of the house lights the candles instead.

Read: Who Lights?

9. Once a Woman Lights, She Has Accepted Shabbat

The accepted practice is that (unless she specifies otherwise) once a woman finishes lighting her
last candle (sometime between plag haminchah and just before sunset), she automatically
accepts Shabbat upon herself and may not even extinguish the match (instead she should put it
down safely to burn out on its own). Conversely, men (who generally do not light) are not
presumed to accept Shabbat in the event that they light. Nonetheless, if a man wishes to light but
not accept Shabbat until right before sundown, he should consciously stipulate so beforehand.1

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Photo: Elisheva Golani Photography (elishevagolani.com), via JewishLatinPrincess.com

10. There’s a Special Blessing to Say

After lighting candles, women cover their eyes and say:
‫וֹתיו וְצִ וָּנוּ ְלהַ ְד ִליק נֵר ֶשׁל ַשׁבָּ ת קֹ ֶדשׁ‬
ָ ְ‫ הֵ ינוּ ֶמלֶ הָ עוֹלָ ם אֲ ֶשׁר ִק ְדּ ָשׁנוּ ְבּ ִמצ‬- ֱ‫י א‬-ָ‫בָּ רוּ אַ ָתּה אַ ֹדנ‬
Transliteration: Baruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-
vo-tav Ve-tzi-va-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bbat Ko-desh.
Translation: Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His
commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.

Read: The Shabbat Candle Blessings

11. On Most Holidays We Say Two Blessings

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The blessing for lighting holiday candles varies slightly. The words Shabbat kodesh are replaced
with Yom Hazikaron (“Day of Remembrance”) on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Hadin (“Day of
Judgement”) on Yom Kippur, and Yom Tov (“holiday”) on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. In
addition, on all holiday (Yom Tov) nights aside from the second part of Passover, an additional
blessing, Shehecheyanu, is said, to thank G‑d for enabling us to reach the milestone.

Read: Holiday Candle Lighting Procedure

12. It’s an Auspicious Time to Pray

The moments after lighting candles, saying the blessing, and uncovering the eyes to enjoy the
lights are considered an auspicious time for a woman to pray—for herself, her family, friends, and
everyone else. Some women say specific techinot (or techinos), informal prayers composed for
this occasion, but many pray on their own, allowing their whispered words (and tears) to flow
directly from the heart.

Read: Jewish Prayers

13. We Have Been Lighting for a Very Long Time

The first woman to light Shabbat candles was our matriarch Sarah. According to Jewish tradition,
Sarah lit the Shabbat candles in the tent she shared with Abraham, and each week the candles

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miraculously stayed alight from one Friday to the next. When this miracle replicated itself for her
daughter-in-law, Rebecca, Isaac knew that she was fitting to be the next link in the golden chain.

Read: Where Does the Torah to Say to Light Shabbat Candles?

The Talmud is a collection of writings that covers the full gamut of Jewish law and tradition. Jewish people devote much
time to studying the Talmud. Seen here is an open volume of the Talmud.

14. There Is a Chapter of Talmud Devoted to Shabbat Candles

The second chapter of Tractate Shabbat is devoted primarily to the Shabbat candles. It specifies
which kinds of fuel and wicks may be used, and then discusses some other laws of preparing for
Shabbat. On the subject of candles, this chapter is also where the Talmud discusses the history
and laws of Chanukah.

Read: What Happened to Tractate Chanukah?

15. G‑d Will Reward Us With the Lights of Zion

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“If you keep the lights of Shabbat,” the Midrash tell us, “I [G‑d] will show you the lights of Zion.”2
Every Shabbat candle lit, every Jewish home bathed in the tranquility and sanctity of Shabbat, is
one step closer to the ultimate redemption, the era that will be “entirely Shabbat and rest.”3

Read: Moshiach: An Introduction

Sunrise in Jerusalem (© Alex Levin)

Do you light Shabbat candles every week? Try it out this week. If you already light, why not
encourage a friend to do the same? Together, we can brighten up the world! See our Shabbat
Candles page

FOOTNOTES

1. Shulchan Aruch HaRav 263:7. 3. Text of Shabbat insertion to Grace After Meals.

2. Yalkut Shimoni, Behaalotecha 719.

By Menachem Posner

Rabbi Menachem Posner serves as staff editor at

Chabad.org, the world’s largest Jewish informational
website. He has been writing, researching, and editing
for Chabad.org since 2006, when he received his
rabbinic degree from Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimin
Lubavitch. He resides in Chicago, Ill., with his family.
Art by Rivka Korf. Rivka uses her creativity and
expertise to create masterful compositions and illustrations. She shares her
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love of coffee with her husband and passes on her appreciation of art and
design to her children.

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