Creating Shabbat Light

CREATING SHABBAT LIGHT

On Shabbat evening that is not a festival, cover the eyes with your hands after lighting the candles, and say this blessing, followed by your own personal prayer, for yourself, your family, your community, and the world.

,םָלוֹעָה ךֶלֶמ וניֵהֹלֱא הוהי הָתּאַ ךוּרָבּ רֵנ קיִלְדַהְל וּנָוִּצְו ,ויָתוְֹצִמְבּ וּנָשְׁדִּק רֶשֲׁא .תָבַּשׁ לֶשׁ Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Majesty of the world, who has made us holy with Your commandments, and instructed us to kindle the Shabbat light.

Baruch Atah, Adonai, Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav, vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel Shabbat.

LIGHT A CANDLE Light a candle, drink wine. Quietly the Sabbath has plucked the setting sun. Slowly the Sabbath descends, the rose of heavens in her hand. How can the Sabbath plant a vast, shining flower in a narrow and blind heart? How can the Sabbath plant the bud of angels in a heart of frantic flesh?

— Zelda Schneurson Mishkovsky (1914–1984), known as “Zelda the Poet”

THINK

Creating light as the last act of the workweek is an iconic mitzvah, one identified with the Jewish people and practiced by Jewish women throughout the ages around the world. After lighting the candles, many women encircle the flames three times with their hands as a symbolic way of bringing the light into their hearts and homes. They then cover their eyes and recite the blessing, followed by a personal prayer. It’s almost magical– when you open your eyes, it’s Shabbat.

CONNECT

“When all work is brought to a standstill, the candles are lit. Just as Creation began with the phrase, ‘Let there be light!’ so does the celebration of Creation begin with the kindling of light.”4

When we cover our eyes we give ourselves the opportunity to pause, and to offer private prayer requests for ourselves, our families, and for all people. Each of us has the potential to shine with expansive, unlimited light, the kind of light that allows us to see each other even through darkness. This kind of light and this kind of seeing is an essential element of shalom bayit, peace in the home. Peace begins not when we all agree, but when we truly see others and make room for another to coexist in harmony. May Shabbat strengthen our families, allowing us to create a home where everyone is truly seen.

REFLECT

Creating Shabbat light helps us shift from human doing to human being. We take action by lighting our candles, then reflect: What did I do well this week that I want to build on next week? What could I have done differently that I can self-correct next week? It’s a blessing when everyone in our home feels really seen. What is one thing I can do that will help achieve that goal over Shabbat and the week to come?

PERSONAL PRAYER

As I transition from the six workdays to Shabbat, please give me strength. Guide me in caring for our beloved children, educating and loving them so that they each find their way in Torah and in bringing goodness to the world. Guide me in my relationship with my husband. Please keep my soul connected with You. Please heal all who are sick, or alone, or in need, and care for my parents.

— Maayan Klein, Israel