Ben Carter
Israel is home to several companies that produce Sabbath candles, also known as Shabbat candles. One of the most well-known candle-makers is Safed Candles, established in the ancient city of Safed (also known as Tzfat or Tzeafat) by a member of the Breslov Chassidic community. Safed Candles offers a range of colourful and decorative Shabbat candles, as well as candles for other Jewish ceremonial purposes, such as Havdalah and Hanukah. The company emphasises the use of environmentally friendly materials and the ancient traditional candle-making method of hand-dipping and weaving candles from beeswax and paraffin wax. Another popular option for Shabbat candles is Kolbo Fine Judaica Gallery, which offers handmade Israeli candles crafted from paraffin wax with lead-free wicks, resulting in a clean and odourless burn.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company name | Safed Candles |
| Location | Tzfat's Old City, next to the ARI Ashkanazi synagogue |
| History | The company was started by a Tzfat resident, a member of the Breslav Hassidic sect, almost two decades ago |
| Products | Shabbat candles, Havdalah candles, Pillar candles, Chanukah candles, Taper candles, Celebration candles |
| Manufacturing | Hand-dipped and woven beeswax candles; paraffin candles; environmentally-friendly materials |
| Other features | Sculpted beeswax depicting biblical scenes, Jewish caricatures, religious ceremonies, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Safed Candles
The staff at Safed Candles hand-dip and weave candles from beeswax for various Jewish ceremonial purposes, including welcoming the Sabbath, the Sabbath-close ceremony, and Hanukkah. The company also offers paraffin candles that are brightly coloured and decorated. In addition, Safed Candles features the work of artist Moshe Chaim Gress, who creates sculptures from beeswax depicting biblical scenes, Jewish caricatures, and religious ceremonies.
The company emphasises the use of environmentally friendly materials in its candle-making process and is proud of its commitment to sustainability. In 2008, the candle factory underwent a renovation, and new rooms were discovered underneath the existing store. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the candle shop a few months later, but the staff quickly regrouped and reopened the shop in the newly discovered rooms while the larger structure was being rebuilt.
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Shabbat candle-lighting times
Shabbat candles are lit before sunset on Fridays to welcome the holy day. The candles must be lit before sunset, and it is considered a desecration of Shabbat to light them after sunset. The lighting time is typically 18 minutes before sunset.
In Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, the candle-lighting time for Friday, June 13, 2025, was 7:26 PM.
Shabbat candles are typically lit to mark the beginning of Shabbat and are usually burned until the end of the Friday night Shabbat meal. It is recommended that the candles burn for at least 3 hours, though some sources suggest 4-6 hours, to enjoy the meal with the candles lit. At a minimum, they should burn until it is fully dark outside to receive some benefit from their light.
While there is no significant difference between Shabbat candles and regular candles, it is customary to use tea lights or small candles that burn for an extended period and are safe and convenient. In Israel, tea lights are commonly used for Shabbat. Additionally, it is recommended to light at least two candles: one for Zakhor (to remember) and one for Shamor (to observe the tradition).
Regarding candle-making companies in Israel, one notable example is Safed Candles, located in Tzfat's Old City. The company was started by a Tzfat resident, a member of the Breslav Hassidic sect, to provide employment opportunities for local residents. The company hand-dips and weaves beeswax candles for various Jewish ceremonial purposes, including welcoming the Sabbath. The company expanded over time, adding paraffin candles and artistic sculptures made from beeswax to its inventory.
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Customs and traditions
The lighting of the candles is traditionally done by the woman of the household, though every Jew is obligated to either light them or ensure they are lit on their behalf. In Yiddish, this act is known as "licht bentschen" ("light blessing") or "licht tsinden" ("light-kindling"). The candles are lit to dignify the Sabbath, and to create a pleasant atmosphere in which to eat, before the advent of electric lighting. The candles must be lit before the official starting time of Shabbat, which varies from place to place, but is generally 18 or 20 minutes before sunset. In Haifa, the custom is 30 minutes before, and in Jerusalem 40 minutes before sunset.
The candles must emit a clean, pure, and steady flame. They can be made of oil or wax, and should burn for at least the duration of the Shabbat meal, which is around 3-4 hours. In most Jewish communities, at least two candles are lit: one for "Zakhor" (to remember), and one for "Shamor" (to observe the tradition). A recent custom interprets these two candles as husband and wife, and a new candle is added for each child in the household.
One company in Israel, Safed Candles, hand-dips and weaves beeswax candles for Jewish ceremonial purposes, including the Sabbath. The company emphasises the use of environmentally friendly materials in its manufacturing process.
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Types of candles used
Shabbat candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, or by men when there are no women present, to honour the Sabbath and to dignify the Shabbat dinner. The candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset on Friday afternoon or on the eve of Jewish holidays, in the dining room where the festive meal will take place.
The candles are typically lit on or near the table where the Shabbat dinner will be served. It is customary to give some coins to charity before lighting the candles. The woman of the house usually lights two candles, with many adding an extra candle for each child.
The candles should burn for at least the duration of the Shabbat meal, which is around 3-4 hours. In Israel, it is customary to use tea lights, as they burn for an appropriate amount of time and are safe and convenient. Tea lights are also used when there are lots of people lighting candles.
In addition to tea lights, other types of candles used for Shabbat include:
- Wax candles
- Oil lamps (traditionally with olive oil)
- Taper candles
- Candles in jars
- LED candles
- Paraffin candles
- Beeswax candles
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History of Shabbat candles
Shabbat candles are lit on Friday evening before sunset to mark the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath. The custom is for the woman of the household to light two candles, one for 'zachor' or 'remember the Sabbath day' and one for 'shamor' or 'observe the Sabbath day'. In some traditions, women light an additional candle for each child, and a single traveller must light a candle even if their parents are lighting one elsewhere.
The lighting of Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law, one of seven rabbinic commandments. The practice is believed to have originated with the matriarch Sarah, who lit candles in the tent she shared with Abraham. According to the Talmud, to dine in darkness leaves one spiritually wanting. The candles are also said to represent the light introduced into the world by studying the Torah and observing its precepts.
The blessing associated with the candle-lighting ritual is known as 'licht bentschen' or 'licht tsinden' in Yiddish, meaning 'light-blessing' and 'light-kindling' respectively. The practice of lighting an oil lamp before Shabbat was first recorded in the second chapter of m. Shabbat, and later described by Persius in Satire V. In the 9th century, a rabbinic midrash linked the lighting of Shabbat candles to the verse "If you call the Sabbath 'delight'" from Isaiah.
In modern times, the custom of lighting Shabbat candles has been promoted by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who encouraged all Jewish girls from a young age to light their own candles with their parents' consent. Today, there are companies in Israel, such as Safed Candles, that specialise in making Shabbat candles using environmentally-friendly materials.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, one candle-making company in Israel is Safed Candles, which was started by a Tzfat resident almost two decades ago. They make Shabbat candles, Havdalah candles, Chanukah candles, and more.
Shabbat candles are candles lit on Friday evenings before sunset to welcome the Jewish Sabbath. The lighting of the candles is mandated by rabbinical law. The candles are traditionally lit by the woman of the household, but every Jew is obligated to light them or ensure they are lit on their behalf.
Shabbat candles can be made of oil or wax. They should emit a clean, steady flame.
Shabbat candles should burn for at least an hour, but ideally long enough to last through the Shabbat meal, which is around 3-4 hours.
