#25: Who Lights Shabbat Candles? (Part 1)

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. The mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles applies to both men and women, both married and single (Shulchan Aruch 263:2). Thus, candles must be lit by a single man or woman living alone and by a group of singles living together (Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchatah 43:6-7).
  2. The Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 263:3) writes that married women are generally given precedence in lighting Shabbat candles over their husbands. The main reason given is that women often deal with the needs of the home more than men, so they merit the privilege of fulfilling this mitzvah. Some husbands have the custom of arranging the candles or preparing them beforehand in some way (Mishnah Berurah 263:12).

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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.