I am enchanted by a flame. By its incandescent, translucent nature. By its fierce, blazing passion. And by its unmistakably spiritual glow.

The Sabbath candles lit by Jewish women worldwide are spiritual, indeed. The Hebrew word for candle, ner, is numerically equivalent to 250. The candle symbolizes all 248 positive mitzvahs that G‑d commanded in the Torah, as well as love and fear of G‑d, which motivate, and complete, the mitzvahs. All the mitzvahs are thus encompassed by the candles lit by every Jewish woman at the start of Shabbat.

Thoughtstream: Today, I will appreciate that the candles that I light lend my home an aura of spirituality that lasts all week.

(Adapted from El N’shei u’Bnot Yisroel, pg. 241, and Sichot Kodesh 5752, vol. 2, pg. 576.)