Lighting the candles!


It is considered a great mitzvah and responsibility to honour Shabbat by lighting two candles 18 minutes before sunset on Friday evening (before Shabbat comes in). This


unique commandment is entrusted to the Jewish woman and it is rich with meaning and purpose.


The first woman to light Shabbat candles was Sarah. According to Jewish tradition, Sarah would light the Shabbat candles on the eve of the Shabbat, in the famous tent she shared with Avraham, and the candles would miraculously burn from one Friday to the next. The pleasant sight of Sarah's candles greeted the many guests that visited Avraham and Sarah's tent throughout the week. When Sarah passed away, the flames on her Shabbat candles were extinguished. A few years later, when Isaac saw that the Shabbat candles of his prospective wife, Rebecca, had the same miraculous ability to continue burning throughout the week, he understood that she was Sarah's righteous successor, and he wed her happily.


One of the many reasons we light candles just before Shabbat is so that we can add light in the home to honour the Shabbat Queen. Another is so that we can easily see the food with a bright, burning candle which we can look at during our meal. Girls over the age of bat- mitzvah should light the candles however if there is no girl over the age of bat-mitzvah present in the house then the father may have the pleasure of lighting the candles. Usually we light two candles but many have the custom to light two candles plus one for every child. (bracha) that is said: ברןך Once the women have lit the candles this is the


Transliteration: Baruch a-ta A-do-nay Elo-hei-nu me-lech ha-o-lam a-sher ki-di-sha-nu bi- mitz-vo-tav vi-tzi-va-noo li-had-leek ner shel Sha-bat 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.


Whilst saying the above blessing the women over the age of bat-mitzvah should draw their hands around the candles towards her face as if she is welcoming in the candle and then she should cover her eyes with both of her hands and begin to say the prayer. It is obliged not to decrease the of candles being lit however it can be increased however this rule can accord to family tnuםma tradition.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13