Tyler Brooks
Candles are lit on most Jewish holidays of Biblical origin, including Passover. The lighting of candles on Passover symbolises the start of the holiday and the story of the Exodus, where the Jewish people were once enslaved and eventually found their way to their homeland. The candles are lit from an existing flame, and blessings are recited before lighting them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to light the candles | On the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan, 18 minutes before sunset. If the candles are not lit before sunset, they may be lit afterwards but must be lit from an existing flame. |
| Who lights the candles | Jewish women and girls |
| What to recite before lighting the candles | Boruch hamavdil beyn kodesh likodesh (Blessed is He who distinguishes between the holy and the holy). |
| What to recite after lighting the candles | Boruch Atah A-donai E-loheinu Melech haolam asher kideshanu bimitzvosav vitzibanu lihadlik ner shel yom tov. Boruch Atah A-donai E-loheinu Melech haolam shehecheyanu vikiemanu vihigiyanu lizman hazeh (Blessed are You, G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the festival lights. Blessed are You, G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion). |
| What type of candles to light | Long-burning candles, also known as yahrtzeit candles |
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What You'll Learn
Candles are lit by Jewish women and girls
Candles are lit on most Jewish holidays of Biblical origin, including Passover. The lighting of candles on Passover symbolises the ushering of the holiday's light into Jewish homes. This privilege and responsibility fall upon Jewish women and girls.
On the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan, 18 minutes before sunset, the holiday candles are to be lit. If the candles are not lit before sunset, they may still be lit after, but they must be lit from an existing flame. Striking a match is forbidden on Passover. When the 14th of Nissan falls on the Sabbath, candle lighting is delayed until the appearance of three stars. Before lighting the candles, the women recite the phrase, "Boruch hamavdil beyn kodesh likodesh" ("Blessed is He who distinguishes between the holy and the holy").
On the second night of Passover, the candles are also lit from an existing flame after the appearance of three stars. The same blessings are recited, including "Boruch Atah A-donai E-loheinu Melech haolam asher kideshanu bimitzvosav vitzibanu lihadlik ner shel yom tov" ("Blessed are You, G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the festival lights"). On the seventh day of Passover, if it falls during the week, the candles should be lit 18 minutes before sunset. If they are not, they may be lit after sunset from an existing flame. On the eighth day of Passover, candles are lit from an existing flame after the appearance of three stars.
The lighting of the Passover candles is a significant tradition that serves as a reminder of the ongoing journey from slavery to redemption. It is a time to reflect on the plagues affecting society, such as homelessness, food insecurity, inequality, discrimination, violence, and environmental destruction. The teachings of Maimonides and the Talmud encourage an attitude of gratitude and a commitment to addressing these modern plagues.
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They should be lit on the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan
Candles are lit on most Jewish holidays of Biblical origin, including Passover. On the first and last days of Passover, candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, who are responsible for bringing the light of the holiday into their homes.
The candles are preferably lit on the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan, 18 minutes before sunset. This is in line with the candle-lighting procedure on the Sabbath throughout the year. However, if the candles are not lit before sunset, they can still be lit afterward, but they must be lit from an existing flame. It is forbidden to strike a match on the holiday.
When the 14th of Nissan falls on the Sabbath, candlelighting is delayed until the appearance of three stars. Before lighting the candles, women recite the phrase, "Boruch hamavdil beyn kodesh likodesh" (Blessed is He who distinguishes between the holy and the holy).
On the second night of Passover, the candles are lit from an existing flame after the appearance of three stars, and the same blessings are recited. During the intermediate days of Passover, if there is a Sabbath, candlelighting is carried out before sunset, similar to other Sabbaths during the year.
On the sixth day of Passover, 18 minutes before sunset, candles are lit for the seventh day. If the candles are not lit before sunset, they can be lit afterward from an existing flame.
The lighting of candles during Passover is a significant tradition, symbolizing the ushering in of the holiday and commemorating the events of the Jewish exodus from Egypt.
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If candles aren't lit before sunset, they can be lit after
Candles are kindled on most Jewish holidays of Biblical origin, including Passover. On the holiday, Jewish women and girls are responsible for lighting the candles and bringing in the light of the holiday into their homes.
The holiday candles are preferably lit on the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan, 18 minutes before sunset. However, if the candles are not lit before sunset, they may still be lit afterward. In such cases, the candles must be lit from an existing flame, as it is forbidden to strike a match on Passover.
On the second night of Passover, the candles are lit from an existing flame after the appearance of three stars. When there is a Sabbath among the intermediate days of Passover, candle lighting is carried out before sunset, similar to other Sabbaths throughout the year. On the sixth day of Passover, the candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset for the seventh day. If the candles are not lit before sunset on this day, they may still be lit afterward from an existing flame.
It is important to note that the blessing "Shehecheyanu" is not recited on the second night of Passover or the eighth day of the holiday.
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Blessings are recited before lighting the candles
Candles are lit on the first and last days of Passover. The lighting of the candles is done by Jewish women and girls, who are responsible for bringing the light of the holiday into their homes. The candles are lit from an existing flame, and blessings are recited before lighting them.
On the first night of Passover, the following blessing is recited:
> Blessed are you, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the Sabbath and the holiday.
On the second night of Passover, the candles are lit from an existing flame after the appearance of three stars, and the same blessing is recited as on the first night:
> Blessed are You, G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the festival lights. Blessed are You, G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
If the 14th of Nissan falls on the Sabbath, candle lighting is delayed until the appearance of three stars. Before lighting the candles, the following phrase is recited:
> Blessed is He who distinguishes between the holy and the holy.
On the seventh day of Passover, the candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset. If the candles are not lit before sunset, they may still be lit from an existing flame afterward.
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Candles are lit on the first and last days of Passover
On the first day of Passover, candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, preferably 18 minutes before sunset on the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan. If the candles are not lit before sunset, they may still be lit afterward, but they must be lit from an existing flame. Striking a match is forbidden on the holiday, and the candles should be lit from a pre-existing flame, such as a memorial candle or a gas stove lit before the start of Passover. Before lighting the candles, a blessing is recited: "Boruch hamavdil beyn kodesh likodesh" ("Blessed is He who distinguishes between the holy and the holy").
On the last day of Passover, the eighth day, candles are lit after the appearance of three stars in the evening sky. The same blessing as the first day is recited: "Boruch Atah A-donai E-loheinu Melech haolam asher kideshanu bimitzvosav vitzibanu lihadlik ner shel yom tov" ("Blessed are You, G‑d, our L‑rd, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the festival lights").
The lighting of candles on Passover is a sacred tradition that holds significant meaning for the Jewish community. It serves as a reminder of their history, their struggles, and their commitment to pursuing a better world, free from modern-day plagues such as homelessness, food insecurity, discrimination, and environmental destruction.
Overall, the lighting of candles on the first and last days of Passover is a meaningful ritual that sets the tone for the holiday and reinforces the values and traditions of the Jewish faith.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, candles are lit on the first and last days of Passover.
The candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset on the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan. If that day falls on the Sabbath, candle lighting is delayed until the appearance of three stars.
Yes, the following blessings are recited before lighting the candles: "Boruch Atah A-donai E-loheinu Melech haolam asher kideshanu bimitzvosav vitzibanu lihadlik ner shel yom tov. Boruch Atah A-donai E-loheinu Melech haolam shehecheyanu vikiemanu vihigiyanu lizman hazeh."
The lighting of candles ushers in the light of the holiday into Jewish homes. It is a reminder of the Exodus story and the journey from slavery to redemption.
Yes, it is customary for Jewish women and girls to light the holiday candles. The candles are lit from an existing flame, preferably from a pre-lit memorial candle or a gas stove lit before the start of the holiday.
