Contributed by Rabbi Mendy Greenberg
Darkness is setting upon the world; the work week is coming to a close. A week of activity, a week of growth, a tiring week. But as the sun goes down, a new day is being ushered in: the day for which we toiled the entire week, a day of rest and tranquility, the holy Shabbat (Sabbath).
Shabbat candles are lit by Jewish women and girls (or men, when there are no women present) 18 minutes before sunset on Friday afternoon or on the eve of Jewish holidays, often in the dining room where the festive holiday meal will soon take place. They light candles to usher in peace and blessings to their homes and to the world.
The earliest one may light the Shabbat candles is “plag haminchah” on Friday afternoon. Plag haminchah is one and a quarter daylight hours before the end of the day. See the ad for local times.
The latest you may light the candles is just before sunset; after sunset, Shabbat has begun even if you have not lit the candles, and handling or lighting a flame is a desecration of the Shabbat.
WHO:
The mitzvah of lighting candles has been given especially to women, the mainstays of the Jewish home. As soon as a young girl can understand the significance of Shabbat and can say the blessing (at approximately three years of age), she should kindle her own Shabbat candle.
WHAT:
Single girls and women light one candle. After marriage, women light two - and some have the custom of lighting one candle for each member of the immediate family.
Candles are lit on or near the table where the Shabbat dinner will be served, to add to the light and joy of Shabbat.
HOW:
It is customary to give some coins to charity before kindling the Shabbat candles. Before we pray to G-d and ask Him kindly to grant our deepest wishes, it is appropriate to display kindness to others.
After you've given charity and removed the charity box, light the candles. A girl should light before her mother, so her mother can help if necessary.
Use your hands to shield your eyes from the flames and recite the blessing while your eyes are covered: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אַדֹנָ-י אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת קֹדֶשׁ
Transliteration: Baruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-tav Ve-tzi-va-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bbat Ko-desh.
Translation: Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.
The time of candle-lighting is considered particularly auspicious for private prayer. Women and girls have traditionally prayed, as they stand with eyes closed, for health, happiness, world peace and tranquility.
Uncover your eyes, gaze at the Shabbat lights and greet your family with “Good Shabbos” or “Shabbat Shalom”.
The Festival of Shavuot:
The holiday of Shavuot is a two-day holiday, beginning at sundown of the 5th of Sivan and lasting until nightfall of the 7th of Sivan (May 19, 2018-May 21, 2018).
What Shavuot Commemorates:
The word, Shavuot (or Shavuos), means “weeks”. It marks the completion of the seven-week Omer counting period between Passover and Shavuot.
The Torah was given by G d to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai on Shavuot more than 3,300 years ago. Every year on the holiday of Shavuot, we renew our acceptance of G d’s gift, and G d “re-gives” the Torah.
The giving of the Torah was a far-reaching spiritual event - one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul for all times. Our sages have compared it to a wedding between G d and the Jewish people.
Hence, there is a Jewish custom that all men, women and children should go to the synagogue on the first day of Shavuot to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments from the Torah Scroll.
Shavuot Holiday Candle Lighting:
Just as candles are lit in honor of Shabbat, so are they lit in honor of the festivals. This year, the holiday of Shavuot starts immediately after Shabbat, which ends at sunrise on Sunday morning, May 20th (Shabbat generally ends at nightfall on Saturday nights, but there isn’t nightfall in Alaska this time of yearm so it ends sunrise Sunday morning.).
Therefore, the Shavuot holiday candles are lit after 1:55am Sunday morning, May 20th. Candles are lit for the second day of the holiday on Sunday evening after 9:12pm. Both candle lightings are lit from pre-existing flames.
Blessings After Holiday Candles Are Lit:
Bo-ruch a-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ho-olom a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-sov ve-tzi-vo-nu le-had-lik ner shel Yom Tov.
Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Festival Day.
The Shehecheyonu Blessing:
Bo-ruch a-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ho-olom she-he-che-ya-nu vi-kee-yi-ma-nu vi-hi-gee-an-u liz-man ha-zeh.
Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G d, King of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and let us reach this time.
AFTERTHOUGHT:
A small flame, or pair of flames, can seem so small and weak. How much of a difference can it make in the gloom of a world engulfed in darkness? The answer is a lot. The beauty of light is that even the smallest point of radiance can dispel much darkness. In the words of the sages, “A candle to one is a candle to many.”
And together, all of our Shabbat candles, from all over the globe, will join together in creating a giant blaze of spiritual light, ushering in the era of eternal Shabbat, the days of Moshiach. To quote the sages once again, “If you keep the light of Shabbat,” says G d, “I will show you the lights of Zion.”
May it happen soon. Amen!
