#22: Background to the Mitzvah of Candle Lighting on Shabbat

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski

In this post, we will begin discussing the mitzvah of Hadlakat neirot, lighting Shabbat candles.

  1. The Gemara (Shabbat 23b, 25b) states that lighting candles when Shabbat begins is a mitzvah/obligation, and multiple reasons are mentioned for it:
  2. Kavod Shabbat: Lighting candles when Shabbat begins shows honor for Shabbat.
  3. Oneg Shabbat: Light enables one to increase their enjoyment of Shabbat (specifically while eating).
  4. Shalom Bayit (lit. peace in the house): Light prevents people from tripping and getting hurt in the dark.
  5. All of these reasons are accepted as practical halacha, and we will see how they play out in the coming halachot. We will also discuss that while in earlier times, not lighting candles meant not having any light at all (since there was no electricity), the mitzvah of lighting candles still applies today as well.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.