Candle Lighting

For as long as history remembers, candles have added a touch of festivity to any event. Birthday cakes boast little colorful flames, and romantic restaurants offer candlelit dinners. The candle light is soft and has a calming effect on those who revel in it.

In order to create a calm and distinguishing atmosphere during Shabbat, the Sages have decreed that in every household candles will be lit every week on Friday at sunset and can be seen in illuminating the holiest day of the week in Jewish homes all over the world.

The Shabbat and the Shalom (Peace).
Darkness has a long standing reputation for breeding fear and anxiety. We avoid it, drawing ourselves toward light, which is why lighting up the home is an important feature of shabbat. The light is there to help assuage the busy and the tension from the week past. It creates a special peace that we use to strengthen ourselves for the upcoming week. This is such a gift, and where the saying Shabbat Shalom is derived from.

Since in this day and age houses are easily lit with electricity, there is not as much of a need for candles, get we still light them near where we will hold the festive meal for the unique quality they lend to the shabbat atmosphere. They burn through the meal and into the night and spiritually enhance the experience.

As the wife and mother is the foundation of the home, she is given the honor of lighting the shabbat candles. She has given her family the serenity that comes with shabbat, and for that she is highly regarded and is given this merit. In homes where no woman is present, the candles must still be lit. In some homes, it is customary for every girl from the age of three or twelve to lights the candles with her mother.

At this point, when the commotion of getting ready for Shabbat is stopped and the serenity of Shabbat enfolds the house, the mother covers her eyes and says a heartfelt prayer for the health and success of the family members.

Because it is important that all members of the family take part in the candle lighting, there is a lovely custom for the spouse to prepare the candles by putting them out, this facilitates lighting them easily and quickly, with everyone included.

Israel is blessed with an abundance of olive trees, from which oil for lighting is produced. Many light the Shabbat candles with olive oil, which set a nostalgic atmosphere. In any case, it is best to choose candles which light easily, have a stable light and do not flicker. Many families use wax candles if oil is not suitable. They are lit upon beautiful and decorative candlesticks which truly emphasise the holiness of Shabbat.

The origin of this custom is the verse "He is my God, and I will praise him" (Exodus 15:2) which is interpreted as a request to beautify the commandments we were given.

And then, as the family prepares to light the candles and welcome shabbat, as the house is ready and happy, we remember those who aren't as fortunate. It is a common custom to give charity money before candle lighting. According to the Kabbala literature, at least three coins should be given in charity.

Originally, two candles are lit, in order to commemorate both references in the bible to the Shabbat: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:7) and "Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy" (Deuteronomy 5:12).

It is a beautiful custom of some to add a candle with the birth of each child. Some even light seven candles for every day of the week.

As opposed to the solar calendar in which the day begins at midnight, according to the Jewish custom the day begins at the sunset of the previous night. Candle lighting is the act with which we mark the beginning of Shabbat. We light a little bit before sunset in order to show anticipation and make Shabbat as long as we can.

The hour of sunset is different throughout the world, and one would be advised to look it up in the calendar in accordance with one's place of residence.

Candle lighting marks the commencement of Shabbat, which embodies the break from the weekly chores. In order to create the appropriate atmosphere, we put an extra effort in the state of the house and our dress.

After the candle lighting, we cover our eyes and the following blessing is chanted: Baruch a-ta A-do-nay Elo-hei-nu me-lech ha-o-lam a-sher ki-dee-sha-nu bi-mitz-vo-tav vi-tzi-va-noo li-had-leek ner shel Sha-bbat. (Blessed are you, Lord our G d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of Shabbat). It is a cherished custom to cover one's eyes while reciting the blessing. Covering and then exposing the face expresses a symbolic delight in the candle light.