For thousands of years Jewish women have offered their deepest personal prayers while lighting Shabbat candles on Friday evening. It is believed that these prayers are especially propitious as candle-lighting is a special, sanctified time when we usher in Shabbat.

We are living in precarious times, when no one can be sure of his or her safety. Nowhere is this uncertainty more pronounced than in Israel where terror against civilian targets has become a routine occurrence, and the threats from surrounding enemies loom large.

Jewish women have the unique power to bring peace into their homes and into the world through the lighting of Shabbat candles. By focusing our collective thoughts and prayers on our brothers and sisters in Israel, the combined spiritual energy of millions of women and girls can make miracles happen.

In order to promote this effort, over 1,000 Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries around the world are embarking on an intensive drive to encourage women (and girls ages three and older) who are not yet lighting Shabbat candles, to take this important mitzvah upon themselves. At the same time, women who are already committed to lighting candles are being urged to focus their prayers on safety and security for all of Israel.

The second chapter of this global candle-lighting campaign will take place on Friday, September 26. Erev Rosh Hashana has been selected as the day that Jewish women around the world will rally together, for the sake of Israel, through the mitzvah of Shabbat candle-lighting. Millions of women and girls are expected to participate in this unique event. Participants agree to dedicate their thoughts and prayers at candle-lighting time to peace in Israel. All women who make a commitment to do this especially on September 26th are asked to sign the Wall of Honor.