What is the correct thing to do? The Torah states Exodus "you shall not kindle any fire in any of your dwelling places on the Shabbat Day. So, the Rabbi you spoke to was mistaken, as lighting any fire on Shabbat -- including Shabbat candles -- is a clear transgression of an explicit verse in the Torah. Whereas lighting candles for Shabbat -- although it is very important -- is only a rabbinic law.
Lighting candles is surely a great mitzvah and a beautiful way to usher in Shabbat, but not at the expense of breaking Shabbat itself!
Let me give you a parable to illustrate this point. A woman's mother is coming to visit her, so she makes her a cake. We say Kiddush before drinking wine and Hamotzi before eating bread. However, because saying the blessing over the candles brings in Shabbat, and candles may not be lit on Shabbat, the order is in this case reversed: candles are lit first, and the blessing is recited afterward. Instructions : First, light the candles.
Then, many people wave their hands around the flame three times and then bring their hands over their eyes, keeping their eyes covered while they recite the blessing. Then, they open their eyes and experience the candles anew after the blessing is said a substitute for the fact that the candles cannot actually be lit after the blessing is recited.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with commandments, and commanded us to light Shabbat candles. Rabbis Without Borders. Some Friday nights I light candles at 9 pm.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and bring you ads that might interest you. Are any candles acceptable? Join Our Newsletter Empower your Jewish discovery, daily. He blogs at Blog. RabbiJason and is on Facebook. Follow Rabbi Jason Miller on Twitter: www. Your question can be separated into two sections: what is the Reform position on when candles ought to be lit, and what can one do if your situation does not allow the candles to be lit by that time. Let's address both of these issues.
The uncertainties over this question led to the establishment of a requirement 'to add from the weekday to the holy day,' that is, to begin Shabbat sometime before nightfall on Friday In many homes the custom is for one family member to light candles at their prescribed time, regardless of whether any other members of the family have yet gathered. Others may be on the road coming home or may be at the synagogue, but the candles get lit in their own time. Your question suggests a different value; that is, the importance of lighting the candles together and ushering in Shabbat as a sacred family event.
For you, and many others, this moment of gathering is a high value. When family schedules do not allow everyone to arrive home before sunset, a conflict arises between the value of lighting candles in their time and lighting the candles as a sacred family event.
Were I in conversation with you discussing this conflict I would suggest several steps to find a comfortable resolution. First, this conflict offers an opportunity for the family to discuss these conflicting values. Acknowledging the values on all sides of the question allows you as a family to decide consciously which values take precedence in your home. Secondly, I would ask if there are any scheduling adjustments that can be made to accommodate Shabbat in a different way.
Third, if scheduling cannot be adjusted and the family consensus is that you value lighting the candles as a family, I would go one step further to consider all the ways you can deepen your Shabbat observance. The Reform approach values individual autonomy. It is customary for Shabbat candles to be lit approximately 20 minutes before sundown on Friday evening, although it is permissible to light them even earlier. This is often done during the summer, when the days are long.
The candles may no longer be lit once the sun has set.
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