Maddie James
Shabbat candles are lit every Friday night to usher in the weekly Jewish day of rest, Shabbat. The lighting of these candles is a sacred ritual, and the candles themselves are considered special. The Talmud records that lighting Shabbat candles is a mitzvah (commandment) and they must be lit before sunset. The blessing is recited after the candles are lit, and the light from the candles is not to be used for any practical purpose. Shabbat candles are traditionally left to burn out naturally and must not be moved until after Shabbat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lighting time | 18 minutes before sunset on Friday; earliest is 75 minutes before sunset |
| Location | In an area where they can be seen, but not in a drafty or unsafe place |
| Who lights the candles? | Married women light candles on behalf of their family; otherwise, her husband or an older child would light them. Single men and women light candles on their own. |
| Number of candles | Some people light one candle when they are single, and two when they are married |
| Type of candle | Specially-made Shabbat candles, birthday candles, Hanukkah candles, tea lights, or electric lights |
| Duration | Shabbat candles must burn at least until you recite Hamotzi; some sources say two to three hours |
| Blessing | The blessing is recited after the candles are lit. Many people wave their hands around the flame three times and then bring their hands over their eyes, keeping them covered while they recite the blessing. |
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What You'll Learn
Shabbat candles must be lit before sunset
Shabbat is ushered in every Friday night with the lighting of Sabbath candles, referred to in Yiddish as licht bentschen. The lighting of candles is a commandment, or mitzvah, and is an important part of the Shabbat ritual.
The reason for lighting the candles before sunset is to avoid any possibility of starting Shabbat late. Once the blessing is said over the candles, Shabbat has begun, and no flame can be kindled. The candles are lit first, and then a blessing is recited. Many people wave their hands around the flame three times, bring their hands over their eyes, and keep their eyes covered while they recite the blessing. They then open their eyes and greet their family with "Good Shabbos" or "Shabbat Shalom".
The candles should be lit in an area where they can be seen but will not be extinguished by a breeze, and where children cannot reach them. They should be left to burn down completely and naturally, and should not be moved until after Shabbat.
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The blessing is recited after the candles are lit
Shabbat is ushered in every Friday night with the lighting of Sabbath candles, referred to in Yiddish as licht bentschen. The lighting of Shabbat candles is a mitzvah, a commandment, but the Talmud does not record a blessing attached to them. The blessing is said after the candles are lit because it is assumed that one accepts the start of Shabbat when saying this blessing. Thus, it would be forbidden to light the candles after saying the blessing, as lighting a fire is forbidden on Shabbat.
The earliest one may light Shabbat candles is 75 minutes before sundown. The ideal window for lighting Shabbat candles is 18 minutes before sundown on Friday, which marks the beginning of Shabbat. However, one may light candles as late as a few minutes before sunset. It is forbidden to light Shabbat candles after sunset.
After the candles are lit, many people wave their hands around the flame three times and then bring their hands over their eyes, keeping their eyes covered while they recite the blessing. The blessing is as follows:
> Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.
After the blessing is said, one uncovers their eyes to see the light of the candles as if for the first time. The candles must burn for at least 3.5 hours, though some sources say they should burn for two to three hours.
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The candles should not be moved until after Shabbat
The Shabbat candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset on Friday, marking the beginning of Shabbat. The candles are usually lit by a married woman on behalf of her family. If she is unable to do so, her husband or an older child lights the candles. Single men and women light candles on their own.
The lighting of the Shabbat candles is a mitzvah, a commandment. The blessing is recited after the candles are lit because saying the blessing brings in Shabbat, and no fire can be lit once Shabbat has begun. The blessing is said with the eyes covered, and once the blessing is complete, the eyes are uncovered to see the candles as if for the first time.
The candles are left to burn out naturally and should not be extinguished. They are left to burn for at least 3.5 hours, or until the Friday night meal has concluded.
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The candles should not be extinguished
Shabbat is ushered in every Friday night with the lighting of Sabbath candles, referred to in Yiddish as licht bentschen. The lighting of these candles is a commandment or mitzvah. The candles should be lit in an area where they can be seen, but not in a place where a breeze could extinguish the flames or cause them to burn faster, or where children could reach them.
Once the candles are lit, they should not be extinguished but should be allowed to burn all the way down. If the candles go out before completely burning down, the mitzvah has still been fulfilled. The candles should not be moved once they are lit, and the lighting should be done before sunset.
The reason for not extinguishing the candles is twofold. Firstly, it is forbidden to use the candles for any practical purpose, including as light to read by. Secondly, the match or lighter used to light the candles should be carefully put aside and allowed to extinguish on its own, to avoid transgressing a Shabbos Labor – “extinguishing”. This custom is especially important if the candles are anticipated to still be burning when going to bed.
The number of candles lit varies, with some women lighting seven or ten candles, while others light the number of candles corresponding to the number of people in the family. However, it is universally accepted that a minimum of two candles are lit, representing the dual aspects of Shabbos – Zachor and Shamor.
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The candles must emit a clean, steady flame
Shabbat, or Shabbos, is ushered in every Friday night with the lighting of Sabbath candles, marking the beginning of the Sabbath. The lighting of candles is a mitzvah, a commandment, and the candles must be lit before reciting the blessing. The blessing is said with the eyes covered, and once the blessing is recited, the eyes are uncovered to see the candles anew, as if to see the fulfilment of the commandment for the first time.
The candles can be made of oil or wax, and they should burn for at least 3 to 4 hours, or at least until Kiddush and preferably through the Friday night Shabbat meal. In some communities, women light an additional candle for each child. The ideal is to use actual candles, but if this is not possible, an electric light can be used.
The lighting of Shabbat candles is a beautiful ritual that brings people together from all over the world in a giant blaze of spiritual light.
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Frequently asked questions
The lighting of Shabbat candles usually takes place 18 minutes before sundown on Friday. However, the timing varies depending on the time of year and location. Some cities offer a larger window for candle-lighting, such as Jerusalem, which begins 40 minutes before sundown.
While there are specially-made Shabbat candles available, any type of candle can be used as long as it emits a clean, steady flame. Electric lights can also be used if actual candles are not available.
The candles should be placed in an area where they can be seen and are not at risk of being extinguished by a breeze or reached by children. They should also be placed in a convenient location as they must remain untouched until the conclusion of Shabbat.
Lighting Shabbat candles is considered a mitzvah, or commandment, and is believed to bring spiritual light and dispel darkness. The lighting of the candles marks the beginning of Shabbat, and the blessing is recited afterward with eyes covered, creating the experience of seeing the fulfillment of the commandment for the first time.
