Guidelines - Shabbat Candle Lighting

HOME | CONTACT US | DONATE

Experience MyChabad.org. Sign up for Free!

ASK THE RABBI

		Chabad.org » Jewish Practice » Shabbat » Readings » Shabbat Bookshelf » Shabbat Candle Lighting » Guidelines

38 Comments Posted

Shabbat Candle Lighting

« Previous

The Shabbat candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset every Friday evening. For exact candle lighting time in your area, click here.

Married women should light at least two candles, corresponding to the two commandments of "Remember the Sabbath" (Exodus 20,8) and "Observe the Sabbath" (Deuteronomy 5,12), and may add an additional candle for each of their children. Single women traditionally light one candle (in deference to their mothers).

As soon as a young girl can grasp the idea of Shabbat and is able to recite the blessing (about three years old), her mother should teach her to light her own candle. The child lights her candle first, with her mother present in case she needs assistance.

It is customary to give some coins to charity before lighting the Shabbat candles.

The time of lighting is considered especially auspicious for praying to G-d for health and sustenance. These prayers are readily acceptable because they are offered during the performance of this great mitzvah.

Spread your hands around the flames and draw them inward, in a circular motion, three times indicating the acceptance of the sanctity of Shabbat. Then cover your eyes and recite the following blessing:

Transliteration:

Boruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-de-shan-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-va-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Shabbat Ko-desh.

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who has hallowed us through His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of the holy Shabbat.

Uncover your eyes and behold the Shabbat lights.

« Previous

38 Comments Posted

The text on this page contains sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard.

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.

38 Comments Posted | Post A Comment

Reader Comments
Latest Comments:

Posted: Jan 23, 2010

Rivkah

There are so many paths for Jews to return 'home' but as one who was called home many years ago, albeit in a similar way as you, I will tell you to seek out the closest Chabad house and rabbi, his family--they will take your hand and walk with you, teach you and show you chassidus which you will understand, if you dont already, is the closest and most powerful Jewish experience. Learn Hebrew, even tho many will tell you pray, even in english, pray--but the experience that will reverberate in your heart, will blossom in Hebrew. Thank you for posting. I posted about not being able to light before sunset; G-d has given me a gift, a miracle actually and I just pray to find the strength to be worthy to continue on the path of being shabbat observant...stay strong, it will not always be easy, but there is no greater love anywhere than G-d's.

Posted By Anonymous, Brooklyn, NY

Posted: Jan 22, 2010

Shabbos comfort and joy

I was listening to G-d one evening alone on a patio and He spoke to me in a still small voice. You are know to me as Rivkah he said. This brought tears to my eyes and I felt such comfort and the years and yeas of rejection of men and suicide of my father and the hurt that invaded my soul just meekly walked away and left the door as I lit the Sabbath candles by myself as a 55 yr old woman. I sang from my Siddur and studied Hebrew on my computer that night.
I asked a Rabbi the next morning what does Rivkah mean and he said, "pleasant to be around" and I wept with thanks and gratitude that G-d would spend time with me. So every Shabbat has been about healing and refreshment and Yeshiva and restoration in His Torah. G-d is rebuilding me as a Hebrew this time. Soon I hope to find a Chassidic congregation who will accept me like G-d has. I am patient. Since my first Jewish blessing I have waited 53 years.. Help me to find my way to acceptance as a daughter of Abraham..

Posted By Rivkah Pemberton, Baytown, Texas

Posted: Jan 22, 2010

To the last poster:

I can sympathize with you... I think that lighting after Shabbat has begun is counterproductive. This is because the entire mitzvah of lighting candles is because we do not light fires once shabbat comes in. As such to light them on Shabbat is just plain wrong. Maybe it would be better for you to light them at work...

Posted By michal

Read All 38 Comments...

Shabbat Candle Lighting


	Let There Be Light


	Guidelines


	Festival Candle Lighting


	Candle Lighting

Search Shabbat Candle Lighting