Friday, November 25, 2005

Laws Pertaining to Lighting Shabbas Candles

(From my notes of my halacha presentation in Yeshiva)

I decided to send this out because I feel it is quite relevant for those of us out of our home.

1. Lighting Shabbas candles is a rabbinic enactment.

2. The Shulchan Aruch (263:2) quotes the Rambam (Hilchos Shabbas 5:1) "Every man and every woman are obligated that there be in their home a candle kindled for Shabbas"

3. Three reasons are given:

A. Oneg Shabbas (Pleasure of Shabbas) (Tosafos to Mesechet Shabbas 25b Chova, Rambam Hilchos Shabbas 5:1, Shulchan Aruch 263:2)

B. Kavod Shabbas (Honor of Shabbas) (Rashi to Shabbas 25b Chova, Rambam Hilchos Shabbas 30:5 - for two different resolutions regarding the seeming contradiction in the Rambam, see the Aruch HaShulchan or Rav Yitzchak Twersky ztzt"l in the Torah U-Madda Journal, Volume 8, page 29)

C. Shalom Bayis (Peace at Home) (Rashi to Shabbas 25b Hadlakos Ner BiShabbas explaining a drasha on Lamentations 3:17, Shulchan Aruch 263:3)

4. The Shulchan Aruch (263:3) based on the Gemara in Shabbas 35b says that the primary obligation of lighting Shabbas candles rests on the wife. The Mishnah Breuerah adds that the husband should prepare the candles for lighting.

5. The Shulchan Aruch (263:6) says students who learn (and dorm) outside their home need to light candles in their rooms and make the blessing. The Mishnah Breuerah adds that if you are living in one location but eating somewhere else that night ( i.e. you are having the Friday night meal at another's house) you should light by your bedside. We typically do not do this however because of possible danger.

6. The Rema in his gloss to the Shulchan Aruch (263:10) says the essence of the mitzvah of lighting Shabbas candles rests on candles kindled on the dining table. The Mishnah Breuerah adds that lichatchila (the proper manner) is that one should eat by the light of the Shabbas candles. Mishnah Breuerah (263:9) says that one may not eat outside in a courtyard (instead of on the table with the candles) unless it will be a great bother to eat inside.

7. The Shulchan Aruch (263:1) says you should prepare and light two candles, one for Zachor (Remember the Shabbas, Exodus 20:8) and one for Shamor (Safeguard the Shabbas, Dueteronomy 5:12). The Rema adds that one may light as many extra candles as desired but one should not light fewer than two candles.

8. The Rema (263:5) writes that in order not to get pleasure from the light of the Shabbas candles before making the blessing, one should light the candles, then cover their eyes, recite the blessing, and then look at the light.

9. The Gemara in Shabbas 23b says to accustom oneself to lighting candles so one merits learning children (literally talmudei chachamim). Rashi (Shabbas 23b talmudei chachamim) explains that the verse says "Ki Ner Mitzvah Torah Ohr" "For the commandment is a candle and the Torah is light" (Proverbs 6:23) and that from the light of the mitzvah of Shabbas and Chanukah candles comes Torah (i.e. learned children). The Mishnah Breuerah (263:1) says that after lighting the candles and making the blessing, one should pray for learned children.

10. The Kitzur Shulcah Aruch (75:6) says that it is customary for women to shower and wear Shabbas clothes before lighting the candles. (Maybe if a man was to light he should do the same. I certainly think that would be proper.)

11. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (75:7) says if one wants to perform malacha (activities forbidden on Shabbas) after lighting the candles, one should specify this before lighting the candles. (This is especially relevant for women because women typically accept Shabbas upon themselves when lighting the candles.) Still, bediavad (after the fact), if one did not make such a specification, even women can still (if required) perform malacha.

I hope this is found to be helpful.

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