The Beginner's Guide: How to Observe Shabbat

Our sages have instructed the lighting of a candle in honor of Shabbat so that through the light one can see their family and possessions, thus enhancing the honor of Shabbat. Even for families that do not yet fully observe Shabbat, the mere act of lighting Shabbat candles creates a great spiritual impact, bringing the sanctity of Shabbat into the home and aiding in further spiritual growth.

1. According to Rambam, this mitzvah is incumbent upon both men and women: "The obligation to light a candle is mandatory, and both men and women are required to have a lit candle at home on Shabbat." (Mishneh Torah, Zmanim, Hilchot Shabbat, Chapter 5)

Our sages mentioned three reasons for this mitzvah: For the honor of Shabbat, since no meal is significant without light, for the delight of Shabbat, because one who cannot see their food does not enjoy it and finally, to promote peace in the home, because one who cannot see their furniture and belongings may stumble over them and become irritable and angry.

2. Shabbat candles should be lit before sunset on Friday, as lighting a fire on Shabbat itself is forbidden. Since the candlelight is intended for nighttime illumination, it is the last act performed on Friday evening. Due to the obligation of adding to Shabbat, the lighting occurs some time before sunset, at the time designated as Shabbat entrance according to local custom.

3. In the case of an early Shabbat acceptance, candles can be lit up to about an hour and a quarter before sunset, but no earlier.

4. On Yom Tov, transferring fire from an existing flame is allowed, and therefore Yom Tov candles can be lit from an already burning fire even on the night of Yom Tov itself.

5. Upon lighting the candles, a woman accepts the sanctity of Shabbat. Therefore, no Shabbat-prohibited activities should be performed after lighting the candles.

6. To fulfill the mitzvah requirement, lighting even just one candle suffices, but the common tradition is to light two candles. One represents the verse "Remember the Shabbat day, to keep it holy" in the Ten Commandments in Exodus, and the other represents "Observe the Shabbat day, to keep it holy" from the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy.

There is no restriction on the number of Shabbat candles, and hence many have the custom to light a candle for each family member (even if they are not at home).

7. The mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles was designated for women, as they are primarily responsible for home affairs. According to the Midrash, this mitzvah was given to women as an atonement for Eve's sin. While the obligation is not solely for women, men living alone, whether permanently or temporarily, are also required to light a Shabbat candle.

8. The woman lights candles, covers her eyes with both hands, and recites the blessing: "Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candle."

She then uncovers her eyes and gazes at the candle lights. According to the Sephardic custom, the blessing is recited before lighting the candles.

9. The time of candle lighting is considered a time of favor, and thus, after lighting the candles, women customarily pray to Hashem, make personal requests, and aks for the success of their family and the Jewish people.

Some recite the request found at the end of the Amidah prayer: "May it be Your will, Hashem our God and God of our fathers, that the Holy Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah."

Many women pray with the following text: "May it be Your will, Hashem my God and the God of my fathers, that You grant me, (and my husband and my children and my father and my mother), and all my relatives, that You give us and all of Israel good and long lives, and remember us with a good memory and blessings, and appoint us with salvation and mercy, and bless us with great blessings, and complete our homes, and let Your presence dwell among us. Grant us the merit to raise wise and understanding children, who love Hashem, fear Hashem, truthful people, holy seed, clinging to Hashem and illuminating the world with Torah and good deeds and all the work of the creator worship. Please hear my supplication at this time in the merit of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, our mothers. Illuminate our candles so they never extinguish forever and ever, and may You shine Your face upon us and save us. Amen."

10. The mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles is to merit having children who are Torah scholars. This is noted in the Talmud: "One who regularly [lights] candles will have children who are Torah scholars". Even Rabbeinu Bachya advises praying while lighting the Shabbat candle to have children of Torah. As he states: "A woman should pray to the Blessed One at the time of lighting the Shabbat candle – which is her assigned mitzvah – asking to be granted children who illuminate with Torah, as prayer is more readily heard during the performance of a mitzvah, and in the merit of the Shabbat candle, she will have children of Torah, which is referred to Light."