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Channels Yeshiva Practical Halachah With Rabbi Shusterman Practical Halachah on the Laws of Shabbat

Practical Halachah: Shabbat Candles

The Laws of Shabbat

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Practical Halachah: Shabbat Candles: The Laws of Shabbat

Learn the laws and customs to properly perform the mitzvah of lighting candles for Shabbat.
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Topics: Shabbat, Halacha, Shabbat Candles
Shabbat Halacha Shabbat Candles
Rabbi Yosef Shusterman, a renowned Chabad rabbi and halachic authority, is spiritual leader at Chabad of Beverly Hills in California.
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Anonymous new york August 5, 2016

I remember learning that if a woman misses lighting candles and it is before 3 stars come out you can ask a non-jew to do it for you and you say the bracha and then the woman doesn't have to add an extra candle for the rest of your life Reply

Yehuda Shurpin for chabad.org June 15, 2015

Re: Joseph and sefardic custom The reason why we cover the eyes before making the blessing is not to pretend that the candles aren't there. As Rabbi Shusterman explains, ordinarily one is supposed to make the blessing before doing the Mitzvah, when it comes to shabbat candles due to technical reasons, this is problematic. Therefore, Ashkenazic custom is to cover the eyes in order not to have any enjoyment from the candles until after the blessing is made (in other words, its not about pretending there not there, rather, it's not benefiting from them until later).

Sefardic custom is to make the blessing before lighting the candles. However, when doing this, the sefardic custom is to make a specific condition when lighting the candles that you are not accepting the Shabbat by making the blessing, but only after the lighting of the candles. Those who follow this custom should verbalize this condition at least once a year. Reply

Norah Elkman Melbourne June 15, 2015

Thank you! I enjoyed your shiur ... I've been lighting in olive oil since I started many years ago, however when I go away as in Conventions, or traveling overseas, I light tea lights as its much easier to carry around etc ... is there any problem with that? Reply

sheva Framingham, ma June 8, 2015

shabbat candles, lighting a match what a great class. so informative. not going off on tangents but sticking resolutely to the subject. now i understand why some people put the lit match down to burn out. thank you, rabbi shusterman. Reply

Anonymous US June 1, 2015

questions Do the candles have to be at the the table or can they be near a table? If someone is eating elsewhere, do they light where they eat or sleep and if they usually light more than two, do they have to light the amount they usually light? If a woman is away, does her husband light and also cover his eyes? Do the electric lights in the room where the candles are lit need to be shut off and turned back on for candle lighting?Can one use colored or scented candles? Are the eyes covered on yom tov and which days of yom tov is the shechechiyanu said? Reply

Anonymous Crown Heights, NY June 1, 2015

Thank you! I was hoping to find a shiur online for practical halachah. I thought Kiddush and Shabbos Candles might be a little too basic, but I was pleasantly surprised at how many things I did NOT know! Thank you for this new peulah. By the way, my husband was out of town the Friday that you gave over the Kiddush shiur. I thought what's the big deal about making kiddush... you pour the wine, put the cup in your hand, and say what's in the bentcher. What wonderful hashgacha pratis that I saw your shiur right before licht bentchen and was able to implement the things you said in the shiur right away.! Reply

Anonymous Oak Park June 1, 2015

where to find time for earliest lighting Chabad.org has the times listed for under halachic times of plag hamincha, the earliest time to light Shabbos candles. Reply

Joseph Botbol canada June 1, 2015

it upsets me, as a sefaradi and as a Jew, when the law regarding lighting the Shabbat candles are changed and rationalized to support this change. when the woman lights the candles and covers her eyes, to pretend that the light is not there, who is she fooling? Certainly not Hashem. you have stated that the berajah always preceeds the act. if that is the case, why the change? if you are willing to do so, may i suggest that you taste the Kiddush before you say the Beraja, you eat of the bread before you say the Berajah of Hamotzi and so on. you cannot say that the sefaradi custom is also acceptable. you cannot change the rule because it suits your logic. i'd like to see your rationale.

Joseph Reply

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