The mitzvah to light candles on the eves of Shabbat and Yom Tov.
4
votes
1answer
143 views
Beracha on lighting yom tov candles : before or after?
There are two minhagim concerning the time the beracha should be said on lighting yom tov candles for a woman, before or after (like shabbos neros).
I've read arguments like these :
before, because ...
3
votes
0answers
60 views
Pretending in kiyum hamitzvot
When a woman (or, if need be, a man) lights candles for Shabbat, she covers her eyes before making the bracha to "pretend" that the candles aren't lit yet because we generally say the bracha before ...
1
vote
2answers
71 views
Hadlokos Neiros Shabbos and Yom Tov if one's parents are in a different time zone
Does a child have to do their own Hadlokos Neiros (candle lighting) for Shabbos or Yom Tov if their mother is in a different time zone, or can the mother still light for the child?
2
votes
3answers
116 views
Candles on Purim?
In Esther 8:16, we read that after the Jews were saved from an evil decree, they had "light and gladness and joy and honor." Is anyone aware of Rabbinic texts that discuss celebrating Purim with ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Lighting candles on Yom Tov that falls out on Motzei Shabbos
Before a woman lights candles for Yom Tov that falls out on Motzei Shabbos does it say anywhere that she needs to say "HaMavdil" first? (Since the kedushas are different -- on Shabbos it was ossur to ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Relighting Chanukah lights that extinguish
In light of this answer (no pun intended) which directs you to never pass your hand over a light without lighting it, what happens when the lights extinguish before you've lit fully.
There are ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Using Havdallah Candle for Ner Channukah
The M"B in Siman 681 Sif-Katan 1 brings from the Bach and Ateres Zakanim that one may use the "Ner Channukah" first for Havdallah, put it out, then light it again for Channukah. This is even better ...
6
votes
1answer
82 views
Chanuka lighting: BeZman (at the best time) or Pirsumei Nissa (publicization of the miracle)?
Is it better to light candles at bezman, or later when there will be more pirsumei nissa? I find 4:30 (approx candlelighting time in NYC this year) to be too early to catch the regular "rush hour." Is ...
6
votes
2answers
226 views
Why do some women light additional shabbat candles for the past weeks they didn't light?
Some women have the custom to light an additional shabbat candle for every week which, for whatever reason, they did not have a chance to light shabbat candles in the past. For example, if a woman ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
Candles in bedroom over Yom Kippur
What is the reason for the minhag to have a yartzeit-size candle lit in the bedroom over Yom Kippur?
(this is unrelated to candles lit for deceased parents for Yizkor).
Is it just so we have a new ...
4
votes
0answers
53 views
Are you yotzei by lighting candles through a grama?
Does one fulfill the mitzvah of lighting candles (sabbath or chanukah) if done by a grama (indirect action)? Example
4
votes
3answers
105 views
Candles lit from Shabbos to Shabbos
In Hilchos Channukah (OC Siman 675 Sif 1 -- see also there Mishneh Brurah Sif-Katan 3) we learn that if one lit Channukah candle(s) (for the mitzvah) for one day and they stayed lit until the ...
3
votes
1answer
355 views
What to do if Shabbat candles go out
What should a lady do if, after kindling the candles, a gust of wind blows them out, or they tip over and are extinguished?
2
votes
1answer
57 views
When should we light shabbat candles?
On page 188 of my סדור רינת ישראל (or p. 196 in this edition) the instructions for lighting shabbat candles begins as follows:
כשהחמה בראש האילנות, מדליקים נר של שבת.
My limited Hebrew has me ...
2
votes
3answers
102 views
6
votes
2answers
212 views
Should a man say Shehecheyanu when lighting Yom Tov candles?
In a situation when a man will both be lighting the Yom Tov candles and making Kiddush, when should he make Shehecheyanu?
Do we say only when lighting candles, since that is when the women say it ...
6
votes
1answer
147 views
Hand movements when lighting shabbat candles
When women light shabbat candles I often see them making hand gestures. These look like two or perhaps three circles around in the air. What is the source for this practice? Is it a law or custom? Is ...
6
votes
6answers
145 views
Number of Candles at Lighting
How many candles should one light on Erev Shabbos and Yom Tov? And why that number?
7
votes
1answer
159 views
3 year olds lighting a shabbat candle
When my eldest turned three her male cousin also turned three. Many of her friends and her cousin were getting Tzitzit. She asked for her own. We explained that boys wear TzitTzit and girls light ...
4
votes
1answer
66 views
Is there any problem with using yomtov candles to cook food (on yomtov)?
Suppose you had a lot of candles, and a small pan of chocolate you wanted to melt, any problem using the yomtov candles for this? Cooking is permitted, but is the use of yomtov candles restricted in ...
12
votes
2answers
121 views
The custom of adding a candle for each child
Many people, including myself, added or will add a candle on Friday night for each child that is born. Where and when did this custom originate?
10
votes
2answers
275 views
40 minutes offset for candle lighting?
Several Zmanim apps are giving a choice on my "candle lighting offset". The default here is 40 minutes instead of the usual 18 minutes I've heard.
Why 40? Why do I even have a choice?
Does the fact ...
5
votes
0answers
85 views
Eating out Friday night of Chanukkah
If one is lighting Chanukkah candles inside (for whatever reason) relying on the publicization to himself and his family, then what should he do on Friday night if he is eating out? Must he make the ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Kosel after Candle Lighting
I noticed that in Israel many women accompany their husbands' in taxis to the Kosel after they already lit the Shabbos Candles. Is this permissible? And if so, why (or how)?
6
votes
1answer
82 views
Candle Lighting Time: Why Then?
Why 18 minutes (or other minhagim). Where did these numbers come from?
6
votes
2answers
189 views
Should one light Shabbat candles if Friday is yom tov?
Today is the second day of Rosh Hashana, and it happens to be Friday. The holiday will end after Shabbat begins. Should we light candles today?
5
votes
4answers
74 views
Chanuka Candle Location
My whole family will be staying at a hotel over shabbos and the hotel management says that we are not allowed to light fires in our rooms. Nobody will be in our home. How can we fulfill the mitzvah ...
3
votes
3answers
172 views
Why do we call it “candle-lighting” time?
Since it is still permissible to do melacha (work forbidden on shabbat) including lighting shabbat candles until shki'a (sunset), which is 18 minutes (or 40 minutes in Jerusalem) following ...
4
votes
2answers
257 views
Can one follow Rabbeinu Tam time for beginning Shabbos?
Does anyone today follow Rabbineu Tam time for the beginning of Shabbos? Reading some tshuvas (e.g. Eretz haTzvi) it is clear this was widespread in Europe.
If one has previously been accustomed to ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Early Mincha Erev Shabbos Chanuka
There are people that daven Mincha on Erev Shabbos Chanuka prior to lighting the Menorah and there are people that light first and then Daven Mincha. Those that Daven early do it in order to avoid ...
5
votes
1answer
190 views
Shabbat in the arctic
If I were to travel to Barrow, Alaska in the summer, when there is no sunset, when should I light the Shabbat candles?
(This is not a hypothetical question; I work remotely for an Alaskan corporation ...
4
votes
3answers
388 views
Calculating shabbat candle lighting time
Is it possible to calculate the candle lighting time based on location and date alone?
Assume all you have is a GPS, a watch and a calculator.
5
votes
1answer
71 views
Lighting Chanuka candles on Erev Shabbat
Since it's not common sense to leave a fire unattended (or against an apartment building's guidelines to have unattended fires), what's the general minhag for lighting Chanuka candles on Erev Shabbat ...
