Chloe Adams
Candles are an integral part of Jewish customs and traditions, and are used on a wide variety of religious occasions. They are lit on most Jewish holidays of Biblical origin, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Passover, and Shavuot. On Passover, it is forbidden to light a new fire, but it is permitted to light one flame from an existing flame for certain purposes. The candle's flame is thought to represent the human soul and is a reminder of the frailty and beauty of life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to light the candles | On the first and last days of Passover, preferably on the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan, 18 minutes before sunset |
| Who lights the candles | Jewish women and girls |
| How to light the candles | Candles should be lit from an existing flame. It is forbidden to strike a match on the holiday |
| Number of candles | One candle is enough, but some people light a candle for each deceased parent |
| Colour of candles | Not specified, but white is a common colour for memorial candles |
| Type of candles | Long-lasting candles such as Yahrzeit candles |
| Duration | Candles are lit for 24 hours |
| Purpose | To remember the dead, symbolise joy, holiness, and the human soul, and to mark the transition to a sacred time |
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What You'll Learn
Candles are lit on the first and last days of Passover
On the first day of Passover, Jewish women and girls are responsible for lighting the holiday candles and bringing the light of the holiday into their homes. The candles are lit on the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan, 18 minutes before sunset. If the candles are not lit before sunset, they may be lit afterward, but from an existing flame. It is forbidden to strike a match on the holiday. When the 14th of Nissan falls on the Sabbath, candle lighting is delayed until the appearance of three stars, and the women recite the phrase "Boruch hamavdil beyn kodesh likodesh" ("Blessed is He who distinguishes between the holy and the holy").
On the last day of Passover, the candles are lit from an existing flame after the appearance of three stars. The blessing "Shehecheyanu" is not recited on this day. The candles are usually lit by those whose parents have passed away.
The number of candles lit on Passover can vary. Some families light all the candles on the first night, decreasing the number by one each night, and then lighting all of them again on the final night. This tradition may be related to the concept of the "'Candle of Life' for the living, representing each soul as "the candle of God."
The lighting of candles during Passover is a sacred ritual that marks the transition to a holy time. It is a reminder of God's divine presence and the occasion's sanctity, setting it apart from everyday life.
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The lighting of candles is done by Jewish women and girls
The lighting of candles is a significant part of many Jewish customs and traditions. Candles are lit on most Jewish holidays of Biblical origin, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Passover, and Shavuot. The candle's flame is thought to represent the human soul and is a reminder of the frailty and beauty of life.
On Passover, as on the Sabbath, it is Jewish women and girls who are responsible for bringing 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. If the candles are not lit before sunset, they may be lit afterward, but from an existing flame. It is forbidden to strike a match on the holiday. When the 14th of Nissan falls on the Sabbath, candle lighting 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. When there is a Sabbath among the intermediate days of Passover, candle lighting is done before sunset, similar to other Sabbaths throughout the year. On the sixth day of Passover, the candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset, and if that day falls during the week, the candles may be lit afterward 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 candles is a meaningful ritual for Jewish women and girls, who play a crucial role in ushering in the light and joy of the Passover holiday into their homes.
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Candles are lit from an existing flame
Candles are an integral part of Jewish customs and traditions. They are lit on most Jewish holidays of Biblical origin, including Passover.
On Passover, it is forbidden to light a new fire, but it is permitted to light one flame from an existing flame for certain purposes, such as cooking. This is why a long-lasting candle, such as a yahrzeit candle, is lit before the holiday, so that a flame is available if needed.
The yahrzeit candle, also known as a memorial candle, is widely used in Judaism to commemorate the anniversary of a loved one's death. The word "yahrzeit" comes from the Yiddish words "jahr", meaning year, and "zeit", meaning time. The candle is lit before sundown and burns for 24 hours. The candle's flame symbolically represents the human soul and serves as a reminder of the beauty and fragility of life.
On the second night of Passover, the candles are lit from an existing flame after the appearance of three stars. If the candles are not lit before sunset, they may be lit afterward from an existing flame. This is also the case for the sixth and eighth days of Passover.
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Candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset
Candles are an integral part of Jewish holidays, including Passover. The lighting of candles is a privilege and responsibility bestowed upon Jewish women and girls. The candles are lit to usher in the light of the holiday into their homes.
On the first night of Passover, all the candles are lit, and the number is decreased by one each night until the final night, when all the candles are lit again. The candles are lit after nightfall, from a pre-existing flame. The pre-existing flame is used because it is forbidden to light a new fire on Passover.
The candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset, which is a custom based on the Talmud. In Talmudic times, it was customary to blow six shofar blasts before Shabbat began. The third blast was the signal to light the Shabbat candles. After lighting the candles, they would wait for "the time it takes to roast a small fish", and then blow the final three blasts, indicating the onset of Shabbat. The time it takes to roast a small fish is considered to be 18 minutes.
Different communities have different customs regarding the time to light the candles. For example, in Chicago, candles are lit 20 minutes before sunset, while in Jerusalem, it is customary to light them 40 minutes before sunset.
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Candles are lit to symbolise the human soul
Candles are lit during many Jewish holidays, including Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Shavuot. They are also lit during the weekly Havdalah ceremony and on Shabbat. The lighting of candles is a sacred ritual that marks the transition to a sacred time.
Candles are also lit in memory of the dead. The yahrzeit candle, also known as the memorial candle or the soul candle, is lit on the yahrzeit (the anniversary of a death). The word "yahrzeit" comes from the Yiddish words "jahr", meaning "year", and "zeit", meaning "time". The candle is meant to burn for 24 hours, and during this time, family and friends can share anecdotes and reflect on the life of their loved one.
The candle's flame is thought to symbolise the human soul, serving as a reminder of the fragility and beauty of life. This connection between the candle's flame and the soul is derived from Mishlei (Proverbs) 20:27: "Man's soul is the Lord's lamp, which searches out all the innermost parts." The flickering of candlelight reminds us of the precious but fleeting nature of life, much like a flame that must ultimately fade away.
On Passover, the lighting of candles is a significant tradition. On the first and last days of Passover, candles are lit, with the number of candles lit decreasing by one each night until the final night, when all the candles are lit again. The candles are lit from an existing flame, as it is forbidden to strike a match or light a new fire on this holiday. The lighting of candles on Passover is a way to bring light and joy into the home and to symbolise the holiness of the occasion.
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Frequently asked questions
Jewish candles are lit before and during religious holidays, including Passover, to mark the transition to a sacred time.
Candles are equated with joy in Judaism, but they also symbolise the human soul and the divine presence of God.
On the first and last days of Passover, it is customary to light candles. On the first night, some families light all the candles and then decrease the number by one each night, lighting all of them again on the final night.
The candles should be lit 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 from an existing flame.
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