Maddie James
Yom Kippur is a Jewish holiday of reflection and contemplation. It is customary to light candles on this day, with some sources recommending lighting two candles. The custom is to light the candles before sunset, and the candles should burn through the entire 25 hours of the holiday. The lighting of candles is accompanied by blessings and prayers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who lights the candles? | All women and girls light candles. If there is no woman in the house, the head of the household lights the candles. |
| When are the candles lit? | The candles are lit at least 18 minutes before sunset, before the start of Yom Kippur. |
| Where are the candles lit? | Candles are lit at home and in the synagogue. |
| Why are the candles lit? | Candles are lit to atone for one's parents, to honour God, and to mark the transition to a sacred time. |
| How many candles are lit? | Two candles are lit, but one is the minimum. |
| How long do the candles burn? | The candles should burn for the full 25 hours of Yom Kippur. |
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What You'll Learn
Women and girls light candles before sunset
Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is a time for Jews to fast and reflect. An integral part of this day is the lighting of candles, which is a common ritual in many Jewish customs and traditions.
Women and Girls Lighting Candles
All women and girls light candles before sunset on Yom Kippur. This custom is performed at least 18 minutes before sundown, and the candle must be large enough to burn for the full 25 hours of the holiday. If there are no women in the household, the head of the household will light the candle.
The candle symbolises the soul, and it is customary for everyone to light a candle or torch to atone for their father and mother. The Holy One Blessed be He says, "Light before me a candle so that I will guard your souls, which are called 'candles'".
The candle is lit before sunset to usher in the holy Yom Kippur. It is also lit before the fast begins, and once the candle is lit, the fast commences. Many people also bless their children before lighting the candle.
Blessings
There are two candle-lighting blessings that can be recited:
- Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
- Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the (Shabbat and) Yom Kippur candles.
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Married women light two candles
On Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, Jews usually eat a final pre-fast meal and then light candles at home before going to the synagogue. It is customary for everyone to light a candle or torch to atone for their parents. The Holy One Blessed be He says, "Light before me a candle so that I will guard your souls, which are called 'candles'".
The custom is to light candles each year as Yizkor, the remembrance prayer, is also said on Yom Kippur. The candle for Havdalah can be lit before Yom Kippur as a Yahrtzeit candle. The Yahrtzeit candle is lit in memory of a deceased parent. The two holiday candles burn down in a few hours, but the Yahrtzeit candle should burn through the entire 25 hours of the holiday.
All women and girls light candles before sunset to usher in Yom Kippur. In a household with no women, a man should light candles. Married women light two candles, although the minimum fulfilment of this mitzvah is by lighting a single flame. The blessing is said in the singular.
The candle, known as a ner neshama (soul light) in Hebrew, should burn for the entire Yom Kippur and is lit at home. The post-Yom Kippur candle is lit to symbolise that until that point, fire was forbidden, and now it is permitted. A 24-hour candle is lit before Yom Kippur.
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Yahrtzeit candles are lit for deceased parents
Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement. Jews usually eat a final pre-fast meal and then light candles at home before heading to the synagogue for Kol Nidre, a prayer said in the last moments before sunset. It is customary for everyone to light a candle or torch on Yom Kippur to atone for their mother and father.
The Yahrtzeit candle is lit before the Yom Kippur holiday candles. Many people who have lost a parent light a Yahrtzeit candle in their parent's memory before lighting the two holiday candles. The Yahrtzeit candle should burn throughout the 25 hours of the holiday, while the holiday candles burn down in a few hours.
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Candles are lit in the synagogue
Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is a time for Jews to fast and pray. It is customary for Jews to light candles at home before heading to the synagogue to pray. The candles are lit at least 18 minutes before sunset, and the fast begins once the candles are lit.
The candle-lighting ritual is an integral part of Jewish customs and traditions. The number of candles lit depends on the individual, but it is customary to light two holiday candles, similar to Shabbat, and one Yahrzeit candle in memory of a deceased parent. The Yahrzeit candle is lit before the holiday candles and is meant to burn for the entire 25 hours of Yom Kippur. The two holiday candles, on the other hand, burn down in a few hours.
In the synagogue, only married men light candles. One candle in the synagogue, known as "dos lebidikeh licht" in Yiddish, should be large enough to burn for the full 25 hours of Yom Kippur. This candle symbolises the "living light" or "the healthy light".
The lighting of candles is a way to honour God, as Isaiah wrote, "With lights, honour God". Additionally, the candles serve a practical purpose, providing light to read prayers and supplications from books during Yom Kippur.
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The fast begins after the candles are lit
Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is a time for reflection and prayer. It is customary for Jews to light candles to honour the day as they are required to fast and cannot honour it with food. The fast begins after the candles are lit.
The candle-lighting ritual is an integral part of Jewish customs and traditions. On Yom Kippur, all women and girls light candles at least 18 minutes before sunset. If there is no woman in the house, the head of the household will light the candles. The candles are lit to atone for one's father and mother. The Holy One Blessed be He says, "Light before me a candle so that I will guard your souls, which are called 'candles'".
There are two candle-lighting blessings. The first is:
> Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
The second is:
> Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe who has sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us to light the (Shabbat and) Yom Kippur candles.
The number of candles lit depends on the individual. One candle must be large enough to burn for the full 25 hours of Yom Kippur. Many people also light a Yahrzeit candle in memory of a deceased parent. This candle should burn throughout the entire 25 hours of the holiday.
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Frequently asked questions
Lighting candles is a way of honouring Yom Kippur, as Isaiah writes, "With lights, honour G‑d."
The candles should be lit before sunset to usher in the holy Yom Kippur.
All women and girls light candles. In each home, the priority order is wife, then husband, then children.
Yahrzeit candles are lit for deceased parents, relatives, or close friends. Holiday candles are also lit, and these should be big enough to burn the entire Yom Kippur.
Yes, there are various blessings that can be said, including: "Blessed are You, L‑rd, our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to kindle the light of [if Yom Kippur is on Shabbat add: Shabbat and] Yom Kippur."
