Candle Lighting

hadlakat nerot

הדלקת נרות

Israeli: ' marks a reduced vowel that Israeli speech drops (b'rachah); when the vowel is pronounced it is written e (lefanecha). - separates syllables that would otherwise run together.

How to read the transliterations

The blessing "Sheheḥeyanu" ("Who has given us life") is said on Yom Tov evenings, except on the last evenings of Pesaḥ. (In Israel, it is not said on the last evening of Pesaḥ.)

Hebrew

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ, וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Israeli

baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam
shehecheyanu vekiymanu, vehigi-anu lazman hazeh.

On Erev Yom Kippur, cover the eyes with the hands after lighting the candles, and say (on Shabbat add the words in parentheses):

Hebrew

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל (שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל) יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים.

Israeli

baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam
asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav, vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel (Shabat veshel) yom hakipurim.

Hebrew

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ, וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Israeli

baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam,
shehecheyanu vekiymanu, vehigi-anu lazman hazeh.

Prayer after candlelighting (add the words in parentheses as appropriate):

Hebrew

יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי, שֶׁתְּחוֹנֵן אוֹתִי (וְאֶת אִישִׁי/ וְאֶת
אָבִי/ וְאֶת אִמִּי/ וְאֶת בָּנַי וְאֶת בְּנוֹתַי) וְאֶת כָּל קְרוֹבַי, וְתִתֵּן לָנוּ וּלְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל
חַיִּים טוֹבִים וַאֲרֻכִּים, וְתִזְכְּרֵנוּ בְּזִכָּרוֹן טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה, וְתִפְקְדֵנוּ בִּפְקֻדַּת יְשׁוּעָה
וְרַחֲמִים, וּתְבָרְכֵנוּ בְּרָכוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת, וְתַשְׁלִים בָּתֵּינוּ וְתַשְׁכֵּן שְׁכִינָתְךָ בֵּינֵינוּ.
וּזְכֵנִי לְגַדֵּל בָּנִים וּבְנֵי בָנִים חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים, אוֹהֲבֵי יְהוָה, יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים, אַנְשֵׁי
אֱמֶת, זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ, בַּיהוָה דְּבֵקִים וּמְאִירִים אֶת הָעוֹלָם בַּתּוֹרָה וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים
וּבְכָל מְלֶאכֶת עֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא. אָנָּא שְׁמַע אֶת תְּחִנָּתִי בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת בִּזְכוּת שָׂרָה
וְרִבְקָה וְרָחֵל וְלֵאָה אִמּוֹתֵינוּ, וְהָאֵר נֵרֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יִכְבֶּה לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, וְהָאֵר פָּנֶיךָ
וְנִוָּשֵׁעָה. אָמֵן.

Israeli

yehi ratzon milefanecha Adonai Elohai veilohei avotai, shetechonen oti (ve-et ishi/ ve-et
avi/ ve-et imi/ ve-et banai ve-et b'notai) ve-et kol k'rovai, vetiten lanu ulechol Yisra-el
chayim tovim va-arukim, vetizkerenu b'zikaron tovah uvrachah, vetifkedenu bifkudat yeshu-ah
verachamim, utvarechenu b'rachot g'dolot, vetashlim bateinu vetashken sh'chinatcha beineinu.
uzcheni legadel banim uvnei vanim chachamim unevonim, ohavei Adonai, yirei Elohim, anshei
emet, zera kodesh, badonai d'vekim ume-irim et ha-olam batorah uvma-asim tovim
uvchol melechet avodat haborei. ana sh'ma et t'chinati ba-et hazot bizchut Sarah
verivkah verachel vele-ah imoteinu, veha-er nerenu shelo yichbeh le-olam va-ed, veha-er panecha
venivashe-ah. Amen.

Commentary

The ancient custom is for women to perform this commandment since they are the primary guardians of the home. Our custom is to light two candles, representing the two dimensions of Shabbat: shamor, "guarding," observing the prohibitions of Shabbat; and zakhor, "remembering," keeping its positive commandments.

Normally we make a blessing over a commandment before performing it. In the case of Shabbat lights, however, the blessing is made afterward, so that the lighting precedes mental acceptance of the day and its prohibitions. The blessing is made while covering one's eyes, so that the blessing follows the act but precedes its benefit.

Lighting candles is a positive rabbinic commandment, symbolizing shalom bayit, domestic peace. By creating peace in the home, we are helping to make peace in the world.

The Shabbat candles also symbolize the light of the Divine Presence, which illuminates relationships within the home. Rabbi Akiva noted that the Hebrew words for man (ish) and woman (isha) both contain the letters of esh, "fire." Each contains one extra letter – yod in the case of man, heh in the case of woman, and these two letters together spell one of the names of God. He concluded: "When husband and wife are worthy, the Divine Presence dwells between them" (Sota 17a).