02 Jan THE MITZVAH OF CANDLE LIGHTING

There is a mitzvah to
light neiros on Erev
Shabbos in honor of the
holy Shabbos. Some
poskim maintain the
obligation is d’orasia,
however, most poskim
say it is a d’rabbanan.
The Gemorah in
Shabbos states, “if
one is rugel in lighting
neiros then he will merit to have children who
are talmedei chachumim.” The Medrash says
“if you watch neiros Shabbos I will show you
the neiros of Tzion.” One should make sure
to have a light on in each room of his home.
If light is shinning from a hallway into the
bedroom etc. it is sufficient. One has to make
sure to fulfill this mitzvah properly.
The Reasons
There are three basic reasons why one lights
the neiros on Erev Shabbos. 1. For the honor
of Shabbos. 2. For oneg Shabbbos so that
there is light in the house. 3. For shalom
bayis so that one should not trip when he is
walking. Some say the reason is because on
Shabbos the neshoma yeisra descends and to
show honor to the neshama yeisera, we add
an extra light.
Who Is Obligated
Both men and women are obligated to light
candles for Shabbos. The custom is that a
married woman lights the candles. Some say
the reason is because the woman is the one
who takes care of the needs of the household
and so the obligation of lighting neiros
belongs to the women. The Medrash says the
woman lights the candles because Chavah
extinguished the candle of the world (she
caused Adom to die), therefore, the mitzvah
was given to the women to serve as a kapara
for the sin.
Oil Vs. Wax
It is preferable to light with olive oil since
it is a clear and nice light. Today, wax
candles are just as clear, and therefore some
poskim maintain that lighting wax candles is
comparable to lighting with olive oil. Others
say that olive oil is still the preferred way
to light. The Sefer Chassidim relates that a
person died and they were not able to find any
merit for this woman besides for the fact that
the woman lit the Shabbos lights with olive
oil.
Preparing The Candle
As previously mentioned the husband also
has an obligation to light the candles but
it was given to the women. Nonetheless,
based on the writings of the Arizal, the man
is supposed to prepare the neiros by lighting
them, and extinguishing them, so that the
neiros will light more efficiently when the
woman lights it. Some poskim say that the
woman herself should prepare the lights.

Many poskim maintain there is no need for
anyone to prepare the neiros prior to the
woman’s actual candle lighting. Today the
wicks are manufactured in a way that it is
not necessary to prepare the lights before the
actual lighting of the woman. Therefore, if
one lights with wax candles, then one only
has to place the candles in the holders, and
if one has the custom to light with oil, then
placing the oil in the glass is sufficient. In a
situation whereby lighting with oil will burn
better if it is lit first, then one should light the
wick before the woman lights. In addition,
if one is using a candle that will light more
easily, when lit prior to the actual lighting, it is
a mitzvah for the husband to light the candle
for his wife, to avoid any tircha for his wife.
Where To Place The Neiros
Many poskim say that one should place the
neiros on the table where one will be eating
the seuda. Some say based on kabbalistic
reasons the neiros should not be placed on
the table (see footnote). In a situation where
there are young children around and placing
the neiros on the table can cause a fire, then
according to all poskim one is not obligated
to place the neiros on the table.
The Amount Of Neiros
According to the basic premise of the
law, one ner is sufficient, but we light two
neiros corresponding to zocher and shomer.
The custom in klal yisroel is to light an
additional ner for each child that is born into
your family. The Lekutei Maharich says the
reason for this is based on the Gemorah,
previously mentioned, that if one is rugel
with neiros he will have children who are
talmedei chachumim. When one goes away
for Shabbos the custom is to light two neiros,
while others say one should light the same
amount as she lights each Shabbos. Some
light seven neiros and others light ten neiros
every week.
How Long Should The Neiros Last
One should use enough oil or wax candles that
the ner should stay lit throughout the duration
of the seuda. Some say it is best that the neiros
stay lit as long as someone from the family is
awake. Others say the neiros should last until
the morning. If one lit the candles and had no
enjoyment from the neiros the beracha was a
beracha l’vatalah.
When To Recite The Beracha
Some poskim maintain that the beracha is
recited before the lighting, while other poskim
maintain that the beracha is recited after the
lighting. The custom of the Ashkenazim is
that one lights and then recites the beracha. In
order not to recite the beracha before having
any enjoyment from it, the custom is that the
woman covers her eyes after lighting, and
before reciting the beracha. Some have the
custom to cover the lights with their hands.
Others say the reason why the woman covers

her eyes is because of the embarrassment
from Chavah. She extinguished the ner (a
nishama that of Adom), therefore the eyes
are covered in shame. The custom is that
women spread their hands over the candles
before covering their eyes. When finished
with the lighting she should daven that her
children should be talmedei chachumim.
Some say the tefillas that are recited should
be said after she uncovers her eyes, while
others say it may be recited while her eyes
are covered.
Minhagim Before The Hadlaka
Woman should be dressed in Shabbos clothes
before the lighting. The custom is to give
tzedaka before lighting. Some say that one
should give the tzedaka to Rabbi Meir Baal
Ha’nes. One should have a special candle to
light the neiros Shabbos with and not use a
match. Some say that a woman should wash
her hands prior to the hadlaka. Some have the
custom to recite leshem yichud prior to the
hadlaka.
Closing The Lights Before The
Hadlaka
Today, because we use electric, many poskim
say that when one lights the candles for
Shabbos, no benefit is coming from lighting
the neiros for Shabbos. Therefore, many
people have the custom to close the lights
before the hadlaka. The woman should close
and open the lights before she lights the
neiros and she should have in mind that the
beracha is going on both the neiros and the
electric, or the husband should first close
the lights before the hadlaka and open them
after his wife lights the neiros. Many have the
custom that no electric light needs to be shut
or opened during hadlakas neiros.
Forgot To Light
A woman who forgot to light a ner on Erev
Shabbos has to add a ner the following week
and light that extra candle for the rest of her
life. The reason for giving her this k’nas is
that she should never again forget to light
the correct amount of neiros. Some poskim
maintain that this applies even if there was
electric on in the house. If she put on the
electric in honor of Shabbos, and forgot to
light the neiros she does not get a k’nas. In
a situation whereby she was an o’nes and did
not light, no k’nas is given to her. Some are
of the opinion that she only has to add more
oil or light a larger candle, and adding an
extra ner is not required. If a woman forgot
to light neiros for Shabbos and it is still ben
hashmushos, and a goy was asked to light it
for her she is not given a k’nas. If a woman
lit the neiros, but is not sure if she recited
the beracha, she does not have to light any
additional neiros. It is unusual for a woman
to forget to light all the neiros, rather it is
possible that she forgot to light one ner, in
this situation many poskim say that lighting
an extra ner is not required, while most

poskim maintain one is still required to light
an extra ner. The custom seems to follow the
first opinion. The k’nas applies only when she
forgot to light the neiros Shabbos, and not if
she forgot to light candles on Erev Yom Tov
The Beracha
The nuscah of the beracha is Lehadlik Ner
Shel Shabbos. Others say Lehadlik Ner Shel
Shabbos Kodesh. Some say the custom is that
the woman recites the beracha quietly, and it
is not necessary for the husband to be home at
the time of candle lighting. Others maintain
that the husband should be home and answer
amen to his wife’s beracha. From when she
lights until after the beracha she may not be
mafsik.
Accepting Shabbos With The Lighting
The minhag is that a woman accepts Shabbos
with her lighting. While others maintain that
when a woman lights she does not accept
Shabbos with her lighting. After she has
finished with the beracha she may not do
melacha (see footnote). The rest of the family
has not accepted Shabbos with her lighting
and melacha is permitted for them. Since
woman accept Shabbos with their lighting,
most poskim maintain that she should not
extinguish the fire which she used to light the
neiros Shabbos, rather she should let the fire
go out by itself, or let someone else put out
the fire for her. Others say she may extinguish
it. A woman should daven Mincha before she
lights.
Making A Condition With Her
Lighting
A woman can make a condition with her
lighting that she does not want to accept
Shabbos when she lights. The condition does
not have to be verbal, while others say the
condition should be verbal. One should only
make this condition if there is a tzorech. Some
say it should only be made once a year. A
woman may make a condition with her lighting
when she wants to take a cab to the Kosel on
Friday night. This is considered a tzorech,
since if she were to walk it would be a tircha.
However, one should not be accustomed to
making this condition. If she did not daven
mincha before candle lighting, some poskim
permit her to make the condition in order to
daven mincha afterwards. B’dieved, without
a condition, mincha can be davened after
candle lighting.