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15 Shabbat Candle Facts PDF
15 Shabbat Candle Facts PDF
Shabbat candles are lit by Jewish women and girls (or men, when there are no women present)
18 minutes before sunset every Friday afternoon and on the eve of Jewish holidays, ideally in the
dining room where the festive meal will soon take place.
In order to be sure that we do not kindle fire on Shabbat (and so that we bring in Shabbat at least
a bit early), the standard practice is to light the candles at least 18 minutes before the sun sets
and the holy day begins (some communities do so even earlier). On holidays, when it is permitted
to light a new flame from one that was already lit, the candles can be lit even after sunset provided
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that we do not strike a match. When a holiday follows Shabbat or another holiday, the candles
must be lit after nightfall.
Shabbat and holiday dinners are ushered in with candle lighting (Photo: Mushka Lightstone).
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Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, encouraged all Jewish girls (from approximately three
years of age) to light their own Shabbat and holiday candles with the consent of their parents.
Until marriage, girls light one candle, and the Rebbe encouraged parents to purchase a special
candlestick just for them.
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The blessing for lighting holiday candles varies slightly. The words Shabbat kodesh are replaced
with Yom Hazikaron (“Day of Remembrance”) on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Hadin (“Day of
Judgement”) on Yom Kippur, and Yom Tov (“holiday”) on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. In
addition, on all holiday (Yom Tov) nights aside from the second part of Passover, an additional
blessing, Shehecheyanu, is said, to thank G‑d for enabling us to reach the milestone.
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miraculously stayed alight from one Friday to the next. When this miracle replicated itself for her
daughter-in-law, Rebecca, Isaac knew that she was fitting to be the next link in the golden chain.
The Talmud is a collection of writings that covers the full gamut of Jewish law and tradition. Jewish people devote much
time to studying the Talmud. Seen here is an open volume of the Talmud.
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“If you keep the lights of Shabbat,” the Midrash tell us, “I [G‑d] will show you the lights of Zion.”2
Every Shabbat candle lit, every Jewish home bathed in the tranquility and sanctity of Shabbat, is
one step closer to the ultimate redemption, the era that will be “entirely Shabbat and rest.”3
Do you light Shabbat candles every week? Try it out this week. If you already light, why not
encourage a friend to do the same? Together, we can brighten up the world! See our Shabbat
Candles page
FOOTNOTES
1. Shulchan Aruch HaRav 263:7. 3. Text of Shabbat insertion to Grace After Meals.
By Menachem Posner
love of coffee with her husband and passes on her appreciation of art and
design to her children.
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