How to light Shabbat candles
Lighting candles on Friday before sunset is how Shabbat begins in a Jewish home. It takes about a minute, and you don't need anything special beyond two candles and a match. Here's exactly how it's done.
When to light
Light on Friday afternoon, 18 minutes before sunset. That's the standard time printed in Jewish calendars and shown on the Shabbat Times home page for your city. If you're running late, you can still light right up until sunset, but never after sunset, because by then Shabbat has started and lighting a fire is no longer allowed. You can also light earlier if you want to start Shabbat early, as long as it's no earlier than plag hamincha, about an hour and a quarter (in halachic hours) before sunset.
Who lights, and how many candles
Traditionally the woman of the home lights. A married woman usually lights two candles, and many families add one more candle for each child. Single women light one candle, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged girls from about age three to light their own single candle too, before their mother so she can help. If there's no woman in the home, a man lights, with the same blessing.
Step by step
- Set up the candles on or near the table where you'll eat the Friday night meal, so their light adds to the meal. Put them somewhere safe, since they'll burn until they go out on their own.
- Give a few coins to charity (tzedakah). It's a beautiful custom before lighting, and once Shabbat starts, money isn't handled.
- Light the candles.
- Don't blow out the match. Put it down on a safe, non-flammable surface and let it burn out, or hand it to someone who hasn't started Shabbat yet.
- Cover your eyes with your hands. Some people move their hands in a circle over the flames three times first, as if drawing the light in.
- Say the blessing (below) with your eyes still covered.
- Uncover your eyes, look at the flames, and wish everyone "Shabbat Shalom" or "Good Shabbos."
Why light first and then bless? Normally a blessing comes before the mitzvah. But saying the Shabbat blessing means accepting Shabbat, and once Shabbat has started you can't light. So you light first, cover your eyes so you don't enjoy the light yet, say the blessing, and then uncover your eyes to see the candles "for the first time." Some Sephardic communities say the blessing before lighting.
The blessing
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת קֹדֶשׁ.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat kodesh.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to light the candle of the holy Shabbat.
Want to know what each word means, and how the blessing changes on holidays? See the Shabbat candle blessing explained.
After lighting
Once you've said the blessing, you've accepted Shabbat. From that moment, don't move the candles or do anything else that's off limits on Shabbat. Many women take the quiet moment right after lighting for a personal prayer, for their family, their children, or anything on their heart. It's considered an especially meaningful time to pray.
On holidays
Holiday candles are lit almost the same way, with a slightly different blessing and usually the Shehecheyanu blessing as well. There's one big difference: on the second night of a holiday (or a holiday that starts Saturday night), you light after nightfall, from a flame that's already burning. See how to light holiday candles.
Common questions
What time do I light Shabbat candles?
18 minutes before sunset on Friday. The exact time changes every week and depends on where you are. Shabbat Times shows it for your location automatically.
What if I miss candle lighting time?
You can still light until sunset. After sunset, Shabbat has begun and candles are no longer lit.
How many Shabbat candles should I light?
Most married women light two candles, and many add one for each child. Single women and girls light one.
Can a man light Shabbat candles?
Yes. If there's no woman in the home, a man lights the candles and says the same blessing.
Do you say the blessing before or after lighting?
The common custom is to light first, cover your eyes, and then say the blessing. Some Sephardic communities say the blessing first.