The Sages instituted the practice of lighting candles before Shabbat. Three reasons have been given for this commandment: (1) The extra light in the home honors the Shabbat; (2) light from the candles adds to the enjoyment of Shabbat; and (3) the light of the candles enhances the atmosphere of peace in the home and prevents friction among members of the family. Lighting Shabbat candles is considered so important that one who does not have enough money to buy candles for Shabbat must seek help from others so that he can fulfill the mitzva.

Shabbat begins at sunset. From this moment onward it is prohibited to perform labor, which includes kindling a fire. Since it is a mitzva to impart the sanctity of the Shabbat onto some time of the weekday, one “brings in” Shabbat a bit early. The time for candle lighting that appears on calendars is approximately eighteen minutes before sunset.

One must be careful to light candles on time, and not to do so later than the permissible time. One can begin Shabbat early by lighting candles earlier than the published candle lighting time, and may then recite the Kabbalat Shabbat service before the standard time for the start of Shabbat. In the winter one may light candles as early as an hour before sunset, and in the summer from about an hour and twenty minutes before sunset. (These times are valid in Israel. In other parts of the world, one should consult the calendars prepared by local halakhic authorities).

The mitzva of lighting Shabbat candles is primarily the woman’s responsibility. There are two reasons for this: First, in practice it is generally the woman who manages the affairs of the home; second, lighting Shabbat candles is a remedy for the sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge (which was brought about by the first woman, Eve), as this transgression “extinguished the light of the world” (Tanĥuma, Noah 1).

The obligation to light Shabbat candles applies to married women. Some have the custom that all girls above the age of bat mitzva light candles and recite the blessing. In some homes it is customary for girls from the age of three and above to light as well, and to recite the blessing. If there is no woman available to light the Shabbat candles, a man must do so.

The Shabbat candles that are sold in stores are well-suited for this purpose, as they burn brightly. Some people have the custom to light specifically with olive oil. In any event, the candles should be substantial enough to burn into the night, and should be positioned where they can be seen from the dining table.

While one candle suffices to fulfill the obligation to light Shabbat candles, over the generations the Sages instituted a common practice to light two candles, one corresponding to the verse, “Remember the Shabbat day” (Exodus 20:8), and the other corresponding to the verse, “Observe the Shabbat day” (Deuteronomy 5:12).

One may add as many candles as she wishes to these two lights. Many women add candles according to the number of children in the family. For example, a mother of four adds four candles to the two that every woman lights, for a total of six. Girls who light in addition to their mother light only one candle.

A woman who usually lights Shabbat candles but as a result of negligence failed to do so (even on one occasion) rectifies her error by lighting an additional candle every week from that point forward. For example, if until then she would generally light six candles, afterward she lights seven every week.

It is a worthy custom to give money to charity before lighting the candles.

There are differences in custom with regard to when the blessing is recited. In the Ashkenazic tradition, the woman lights the candles first, then covers her eyes, and only then recites the blessing. After removing her hands from her eyes, she looks at the candles for a moment. Many Sephardic women first recite the blessing and then light the candles.

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us through His mitzvot, and commanded us to light the candle of Shabbat” (some say, “of holy Shabbat”).

A woman who is a guest in a house where candles are already being lit also lights candles. In Ashkenazic communities and in some Sephardic communities it is customary for her to light and recite a blessing. In other Sephardic communities, the practice in this situation is to light without reciting a blessing.

Some add a personal prayer after lighting the candles, such as the prayer that follows:

“May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my forefathers, that You give grace to me (and my husband / and my children / and my father / and my mother) and all those close to me, and give us and all Israel good and long lives. And remember us with a legacy of goodness and blessing; come to us with compassion and bless us with great blessings. Build our homes until they are complete, and allow Your Presence to live among us.

“And may I merit to raise children and grandchildren, each one wise and understanding, loving the Lord and in awe of God, people of truth, holy children, who will cling to the Lord, and light up the world with Torah and with good deeds, and with all the service that serves the Creator. Please, hear my pleading at this time, in the merit of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah our mothers, and light our candle so that it will never be extinguished, and light up Your face so that we shall be saved. Amen.”

Further reading: To learn about a miracle that occurred with the Shabbat candles, see A Concise Guide to the Sages, p. 349.