How To Light Shabbat Candles



Two (or more) candles are lit.



Both hands are waved towards the face, symbolically drawing in the light of the candles and the sanctity of Shabbat.



The eyes are then covered and the blessing is recited:


Ba’ruch ah’tah Ah’do’nai, Eh’lo’hay’nu melech ha’o’lam, ah’sher kidishanu b’mitz’vo’tav v’tzee’vanu l’hahd’leek nayr shel Shabbat.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has made us holy through His commandments, and has commanded us to light the Sabbath light.

After the candles are lit and the blessing is recited, it is customary to say a special prayer asking God to watch over the family. In addition, many take a few moments of personal time to reflect on the past week, and on the week to come, and to have a “private conversation” with G-d.

The traditional additional prayer is (in English):

May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my ancestors, to be gracious to me [and to my spouse, to my children] and to all my family. Make our household complete, with Your Divine Presence dwelling among us. Make me worthy to raise children and grandchildren who are wise and brighten the world with Torah and goodness. Please hear our prayers for the sake of our matriarchs, Sarah and Rebecca and Rachel and Leah, and ensure that the brightness of our soul will never be muted. Show us the radiance of Your visage and we will be saved. Amen.


Twebrew School: Shabbat is brought to you on behalf of Shabbat Across America and Shabbat Across Canada, the only cross-continental celebration of Shabbat. The fourteenth annual SAA/C will take place on March 5, 2010. To learn more, click here.

Copyright © 2010 National Jewish Outreach Program. All rights reserved.

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