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The Shabbat Candles

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The Shabbat Candles

Each Friday, 18 minutes before sunset, everything stops and we usher in the Shabbat with the lighting of the candles. Rebbetzin Rivkah Denburg of Boca Raton shares some personal thoughts on the meaning of lighting the Shabbat candles

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Shabbat Candles

Rebbetzin Rivkah Denburg

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10 Comments

Anonymous United States December 29, 2016

Shabbat candle lighting The Torah says that when Rivka entered the tent of Sarah, her candles stayed lit from one Shabbat to the next. Rav Huna says in the Gemorrah that a one who is careful with Shabbos candlelighting will have children who will be Torah scholars.The Torah says also one who only has money for Chanukah candles or Shabbat candles should purchase Shabbat candles since Shabbat candles bring peace into the home. The Yalkut Shemoni says that if one will observe the lighting of the Shabbat candles, one will merit to see the Redemption. The Zohar says that if a lady lights candles with joy in her heart, she brings peace, joy, and blessings. The Rebbe said that in our generation the light of girls 3 and older is also needed to bring light into this dark world. Ladies are the mothers of the world who give birth to future generations - she is the spirit of the home and does not go to the Synagogue and be part of a Minyan but has the job of raising future generations so is given this special mitzvah Reply

Alan Fort Lauderdale November 6, 2015

Just a small point, it should be emphasized that if no woman is present a man can and should light Shabbat candles. I do in memory of my late wife
Also in the video, I understand it is a 'demonstration' but the girls could look happy and natural! Reply

Steven Beverly dr November 29, 2013

Hi Nice Reply

Anonymous September 14, 2011

Lighting the Candles That is a lovely video of the women lighting the candles. I am a christian but I look forward to looking more at this site. After WW2 in England I went to school with many jewish girls. I remember them with affection even though it was many years ago as they were so kind to a very shy little girl. I think their parents got out of Germany before the Holocaust or got out of Europe somehow during the war. After the war also we say many items on the news about the camps when they were opened up and it gave me terrible nightmares as a young child to see the terrible things people can do to each other. Best wishes for your site Reply

Anonymous boca Raton, florida October 27, 2010

This video depicted an individual woman's reflection on lighting shabbat candles with her daughters. It did not exclude the idea that men are obligated to light if there are no women in the household. Traditionally, this mitzva is a woman's mitzva. Reply

Anonymous October 17, 2010

all male households happen In a home with no females, either "yet", or "anymore", the male lights the candles and says the blessing. It seems a little disingenuous to say that it's only a female's job, as did this video. Feminism never works both ways, does it? Reply

An Editor November 10, 2008

Re: Where is it written...? Lighting a Shabbat candle is an essential part of Shabbat, because Shabbat is a day of delight, and nobody enjoys sitting in the dark! Since you can't light a fire on Shabbat, the woman of the house would always light the lamp before Shabbat began. In later times, the rabbis made this a formal obligation, quite likely so that people would not try to skimp on oil and say they were enjoying Shabbat when they weren't.

That's the story in a nutshell. A longer response is in the works and will be posted soon, G_d willing, on this site. Stay tuned. Reply

Janet Naples, fl November 6, 2008

shabbat candles I would like to know where does Torah specifies to light candles on Shabbat. Thank You and Shalom. Reply

Chani Benjaminson, chabad.org September 14, 2008

Shabbat Candles Lighting Shabbat candles is one of the seven rabbinic commandments. Reply

Brenda Huntsville, AL September 10, 2008

Where is it written to light candles? I think this is a beautiful tradition and want to learn all I can about it. However, is it actually written in Torah to light a candle or does it only say to observe the Sabbath and keep it holy? Reply

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