Shabbat candles
Encyclopedia
Shabbat candles are candles lit on Friday nights, 18 minutes before sunset, to usher in the Jewish Sabbath
.Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law. Candlelighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household, but in the absence of a woman, it may be done by man. After lighting the candles, the woman waves her hands over them, covers her eyes, and recites a blessing.
or domestic tranquility (שלום בית).
In Yiddish, lighting the candles is known as "licht bentschen" or "licht tsinden."
families add the word "kodesh" ("holy") at the end of the blessing, making "... the candle of the holy Shabbat," (ner shel Shabbat kodesh).
Sabbath
Sabbath in Christianity is a weekly day of rest or religious observance, derived from the Biblical Sabbath.Seventh-day Sabbath observance, i.e. resting from labor from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, is practiced by seventh-day Sabbatarians...
.Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law. Candlelighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household, but in the absence of a woman, it may be done by man. After lighting the candles, the woman waves her hands over them, covers her eyes, and recites a blessing.
History
The requirement to light Shabbat candles is of rabbinic origin. It is traditional to light two candles, but in some homes an additional candle is lit for each child. The lighting of Shabbat candles has a dual purpose: To "honor Shabbat" (כבוד שבת) and create shalom bayitShalom bayit
Shalom bayit is the Jewish religious concept of domestic harmony and good relations between husband and wife. In a Jewish court of law, shalom bayit is the Hebrew term for marital reconciliation...
or domestic tranquility (שלום בית).
In Yiddish, lighting the candles is known as "licht bentschen" or "licht tsinden."
Blessings
- "ברוך אתה ה אלוקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר של שבת"
- Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha‑olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
- "Blessed are You, , our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candle[s]."
Variants
ChabadChabad
Chabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
families add the word "kodesh" ("holy") at the end of the blessing, making "... the candle of the holy Shabbat," (ner shel Shabbat kodesh).
Further reading
- B.M. Lewin, The History of the Sabbath Candles, in Essays and Studies in Memory of Linda A. Miller, I. Davidson (ed), New York, 1938, pp.55-68.