Sabbath candles are lit by the oldest woman in the house 18 minutes before sunset on Friday evening. Two candles represent the Torah and can be used for light during Shabbat. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors and can be purchased in boxes containing several pairs.
Sabbath candles are the candles, at least two, that are lit each week at the beginning of Sabbath or Shabbat observance on Friday evening. Most practicing Jews begin the Sabbath celebration, not just a time of rest and no work, but also a time of inner reflection, with the lighting of Sabbath candles. The lighting of candles in the strictest form takes place exactly 18 minutes before sunset and begins with the following heartfelt prayer, usually pronounced in Hebrew:
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam Blessed are you, Lord our God, ruler of the universe
asher kidishanu b’mitz’votav v’tzivanuWho sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us
the had’lik neir shel Shabbat. (Amein) to turn on the Shabbat lights. Amen.
The task of lighting the Sabbath candles falls to the oldest woman in the house. When there are no women in the house, the older man lights the candles and gives the blessing. After the candles are lit, the person reciting the prayer covers his eyes, so as not to see the light. It is also typical for women to include a silent prayer to God after saying the Shabbat blessing aloud.
The traditional number of Sabbath candles needed is two, but there is no prohibition on including more. Some women light one for each day of the week and others might light a candle to represent each of her children. A minimum of two is required as they represent two important texts of the Torah, or for Christians, the Old Testament. The first occurs in Exodus 20:8, where the Jews are commanded to remember and keep the Sabbath day holy translated as the word zachor. There is an almost identical statement in Deuteronomy 5:12, but the Sabbath is written as shamor. So two candles represent these two words and God’s words to his people to uphold and protect the Sabbath.
Sabbath candles may also be important as a source of light in Jewish homes where even electricity is avoided on Shabbat. This means that the lighting must occur before the official start of Shabbat, as lighting candles technically requires work. From the Sabbath candles, other candles can be lit and this cannot be seen as work.
In homes that keep Kosher, families can look for candles that are certified Kosher. The simplest candles are white tapers, about 2-3 inches thick (5.08-7.62 cm) which can be purchased in boxes containing several pairs. Standard cones can also be used and can come in a variety of colors or with designs or patterns. Sabbath candles can be placed, according to the instructions, in a variety of different candlesticks. You can even find scented candles, although these may not be the best choice when combined with serving a Shabbat meal. Prices vary: a single set of tapers can cost anywhere from two to five US dollars (USD). The boxes could cost around $10-15 USD, depending on the total number of candles they contain.
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