Shabbat candles (Hebrew: נרות
שבת) are candles lit on Friday nights, 18 minutes before
sunset, to usher in the Jewish Sabbath.[1] Lighting Shabbat
candles is a rabbinically mandated law. [2] 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. [3]
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History
The requirement to light Shabbat candles is of rabbinic
origin.[4][5] 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 bayit or domestic
tranquility (שלום בית).
In Yiddish, lighting the candles is known as "licht bentschen"
or "licht tsinden."
[edit] 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, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who has
sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light
the Shabbat candle[s]."
Variants
Chabad families add the word "kodesh" ("holy") at the end of
the blessing, making "... the candle of the holy Shabbat," (ner
shel Shabbat kodesh).
