Lighting Shabbat candles (Hebrew: נרות שבת) is a rabbinically mandated law in Judaism.[1]Two candles or more are lit on Friday evening, 18 minutes before sundown, to welcome Shabbat. Candlelighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household, though in the absence of a woman, it is done by a man. After lighting the candles, the woman waves her hands over them, covers her eyes, and recites a blessing. [2]
Source of the commandment
Most rabbinic authorities hold that the requirement to light Shabbat candles is of rabbinic origin.[3][4]
According to the rabbis, the lighting of Shabbat candles has a dual purpose:
- To "honor Shabbat" (כבוד שבת)
- For shalom bayit or domestic tranquility (שלום בית)
In some households, more than two candles are lit. Some families light an additional candle for each child. Lighting the candles is known as licht tsinden in Yiddish.
Blessings
- "ברוך אתה ה אלוקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר של שבת"
- Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha‑olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
- "Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candle[s]."
The Chabad version of the blessing adds the word "kodesh" ("holy") at the end of the blessing, making "... the candle of the holy Shabbat," (ner shel Shabbat kodesh).
References
- ^ Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 263:2
- ^ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Shabbat2.html
- ^ Maimonidies Hilchot Shabbat 5:1
- ^ Meiri, Talmud Shabbat (Talmud) 25b
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