Does a single man light Shabbat candles?

It is your obligation to light a candle, and say the blessing, every Friday evening.

The mitzvah of Shabbat candles applies to men and women equally.1 However, for several reasons (see Why is it the woman's role to light the Shabbat candles?) the rabbis instituted that if there is a woman (over the age of bat mitzvah) in the house, she should be the one who fulfills the obligation for the entire household.2

If there is no woman in the house, then the obligation falls upon the man.3

FOOTNOTES
1.	Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orach Chaim 263:5
2.	Ibid.
3.	Ibid 263:9.

By Naftali Silberberg

Rabbi Naftali Silberberg resides in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife Chaya Mushka and their three children.

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December 7, 2011

a man lighting the shabbos candles.....

is this shown in the torah.......

dg
07446, nj.....usa

October 29, 2011

the shabbat lighting of the candles.....

I never saw a man light candles, especially shabbas candles.....but, if the woman is somehow incapacitated, is it still kosher if the man in the home does it?

April 16, 2009

single wom

Does a single woman light one or two candles? I was brought up lighting two but someone told me that one lights two when one is married....

Anonymous

February 13, 2009

Keep up the good work of educating the world. It is most needed and deeply appreciated.

Robert M
CT/ usa