Chloe Adams
Shabbat candles are a significant part of Jewish tradition, ushering in the peace and sanctity of the Shabbat, and adding light and warmth to the world. The lighting of candles is a rabbinically mandated law, and they are traditionally lit by women, although every Jew is obligated to light them or ensure they are lit. The candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset on Friday evenings, and they must burn for at least 3-4 hours, until after the Shabbat meal. The tradition is to light a minimum of two candles, representing 'remember' and 'observe' from the Torah, with some households lighting more, often one for each member of the family.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lighting time | 18 minutes before sunset on Friday, or on the eve of Jewish holidays |
| Who lights the candles | Traditionally, the woman of the household. If no woman is present, the man of the household lights the candles. |
| Number of candles | A minimum of two, with some households lighting one candle per family member |
| Candle type | Long-burning candles, ideally with a clean, steady flame. Wax or oil candles are used, with some communities opting for white candles. |
| Location | Candles are lit in the dining room or wherever the Shabbat dinner will be served |
| Purpose | To dignify the Sabbath, bring peace, light, and warmth, and to honour the Torah and the human soul |
| Duration | Shabbat candles should burn for at least 3-4 hours, until the Friday night Shabbat meal, and preferably all night |
| Blessing | A blessing is said after lighting the candles in the Ashkenazic rite, and before lighting in the Sephardic rite |
| Custom | The custom of lighting Shabbat candles is said to have originated with the matriarch Sarah, wife of Abraham |
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What You'll Learn
- Shabbat candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset on Friday
- The candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, or men when there are no women present
- The lighting of the candles is a rabbinically mandated law
- The candles are lit to honour the Sabbath and bring peace and light into people's homes
- The candles should burn for at least 3-4 hours
Shabbat candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset on Friday
Shabbat candles are lit to honour the Jewish Sabbath, which begins at sunset on Friday. The candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, or by men when there are no women present. The lighting of the candles is a rabbinically mandated law and is one of the seven rabbinic commandments.
The candles are traditionally lit 18 minutes before sunset on Friday, although some communities may light them earlier. This custom is based on the interpretation of the Torah's language regarding Yom Kippur by the sages of the Talmud. They learned that there is a mitzvah, or rabbinic commandment, to add a few minutes to the Shabbat, both before it starts and after it ends. This is called tosefet Shabbat, which means "adding time on to Shabbat".
The custom of lighting the candles 18 minutes before sunset is also rooted in Talmudic times, when it was the custom to blow six shofar blasts before the onset of Shabbat. After the third blast, it was time to light the Shabbat candles. They would then wait "the time it takes to roast a small fish" before blowing the final three blasts, indicating the onset of Shabbat and the prohibition of certain activities, including lighting Shabbat candles. Thus, the time it takes to roast a small fish is the same amount of time that candle-lighting should precede sunset.
The number of candles lit varies, with single girls and women lighting one candle, and married women lighting two. Some also light one additional candle for each child in the family. The candles are typically lit in the dining room, where the Shabbat dinner will be served, to add light and joy to the Shabbat.
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The candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, or men when there are no women present
The lighting of Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law and a mitzvah, or commandment, that has been given especially to women. The woman of the household traditionally lights the candles, but every Jew is obligated to either light them or ensure that candles are lit on their behalf. If there is no woman present, then the man of the house will light the candles.
The candles are lit on Friday evening before sunset to usher in the Jewish Sabbath, or Shabbat, and the holy day begins. The timing of this window varies from location to location and throughout the year. The latest the candles can be lit is just before sunset; after sunset, Shabbat has begun and it is forbidden to light a flame. The candles must be lit at least eighteen minutes before sunset, though some communities light them earlier. In Jerusalem, for example, the custom is to light the candles forty minutes before sunset. The candles must burn for at least the duration of the Shabbat meal, which is around 3-4 hours.
The lighting of the candles is a beautiful ritual that brings peace and sanctity into the home. The candles represent light and warmth in a world that sometimes feels dark and cold. They also represent the light introduced into the world by studying the Torah and observing its precepts, as well as the additional soul that is given on Shabbat. The custom is to light a minimum of two candles, one for 'Zachor' or 'Remember the Sabbath day' and one for 'Shamor' or 'Keep the Sabbath day'. The two candles also indicate that the candles are special, holding a purpose that one candle alone cannot. Many households have a tradition of lighting more candles, often one for each member of the household.
The first woman to light Shabbat candles was the matriarch Sarah, who would light the candles in the tent she shared with Abraham. The candles would miraculously burn from one Friday to the next. When Sarah passed away, the flames of her Shabbat candles were extinguished. When Isaac saw that the Shabbat candles of his prospective wife, Rebecca, had the same miraculous ability to continue burning throughout the week, he understood that she was Sarah's righteous successor, and he wed her happily.
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The lighting of the candles is a rabbinically mandated law
The custom of lighting Shabbat candles is traditionally performed by the woman of the household, but every Jew is obligated to either light or ensure that candles are lit on their behalf. If there is no woman present, the candles may be lit by a man. Girls as young as three years old may also light their own Shabbat candle, as long as they understand the significance of Shabbat and can say the blessing. The candles are typically lit in the place where the Shabbat dinner will be served.
The number of candles lit varies, with some households lighting a minimum of two candles, and others lighting one candle per member of the household. The two candles are said to represent the two instances of the commandment of keeping Shabbat given in the Torah: "Zachor (remember) the Sabbath" and "Shamor (keep) the Sabbath". However, there are other interpretations of the two candles, such as representing husband and wife, or the additional soul that their sages say they are given on Shabbat.
The candles must be lit before the official starting time of Shabbat, which is generally 18 or 20 minutes before sunset, though this varies from place to place. In Jerusalem, for example, the custom is to light the candles 40 minutes before sunset. The candles must burn for at least the duration of the Shabbat dinner, with some sources recommending they burn for two to three hours, or even until the next morning.
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The candles are lit to honour the Sabbath and bring peace and light into people's homes
Shabbat candles are lit on Friday evening before sunset to honour the Sabbath and bring peace and light into people's homes. The lighting of candles is a rabbinically mandated law, and the custom is said to have originated with Moses. The woman of the household traditionally lights the candles, but every Jew is obligated to either light them or ensure that they are lit on their behalf. In the absence of a woman, the man of the household may light the candles.
The candles are typically lit 18 minutes before sunset, although some communities, such as those in Jerusalem, light them earlier. The candles are meant to burn for at least a few hours, until after the Shabbat meal is finished. It is forbidden to use the candles for any practical purpose, such as lighting a room, as this is considered "work" on the Sabbath, a day of rest.
The lighting of Shabbat candles is a way to dignify and bring delight to the Sabbath. In the past, before electric lighting, candles were necessary to create a pleasant and illuminated environment for the meal. Today, the candles continue to add light and warmth to the home, symbolising the light and joy of Shabbat. They also represent the additional soul that our sages say we are given on Shabbat.
The number of candles lit can vary, but it is traditional to light a minimum of two candles. Some interpret the two candles as representing husband and wife, while others say they symbolise the two instances of the commandment to keep Shabbat in the Torah: "Remember the Sabbath" and "Keep the Sabbath". Many households also light an additional candle for each child in the family.
The act of lighting Shabbat candles is a meaningful ritual that brings peace and sanctity into the home. It is a way to honour the Sabbath and create a warm and inviting atmosphere for the upcoming meal and festivities. The candles are a reminder of the importance of Shabbat in Jewish culture and a way to usher in a day of rest and reflection.
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The candles should burn for at least 3-4 hours
Shabbat candles are lit on Friday evenings before sunset to welcome the Jewish Sabbath. The candles are traditionally lit by the woman of the household, though every Jew is obligated to light them or ensure that they are lit on their behalf. The candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset, though some communities, such as those in Jerusalem, light them earlier. The candles are lit to honour the Sabbath and to create a bright and cheery ambiance. They are also a metaphor for the Torah and the human soul.
To avoid benefiting from the light of the candles before saying a blessing, some women cover their eyes after lighting the candles. The blessing may be said before or after lighting the candles, depending on the rite. In the Ashkenazic rite, the blessing is said after the candles are lit, whereas in the Sephardic rite, the blessing is said before.
The lighting of Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law. The candles are traditionally lit in the place where the Shabbat dinner will be served, and most Jews light at least two candles. One interpretation is that the two candles represent "Remember" and "Keep" from the Torah. Another interpretation is that the candles represent the light introduced into the world through studying the Torah and observing its precepts.
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Frequently asked questions
Shabbat candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset on Friday evenings, or on the eve of Jewish holidays. They must be lit before the official starting time of Shabbat, which varies from place to place.
Traditionally, the woman of the household lights the candles. However, if there is no woman present, a man of the house may light them. Girls from the age of three are also encouraged to light their own Shabbat candles.
The lighting of candles is a rabbinically mandated law. The candles are lit to honour the Shabbat and to bring peace and light into the home. They are also a metaphor for the Torah and the human soul.
