Lighting Shabbos Candles in Front of a Mirror

Is a woman permitted to light Shabbos candles in front of a mirror being that she makes the bracha and davens at the candles?

The Shulchan Aruch [1] writes that one should not daven in front of pictures as that can be a distraction. The Mishna Berura [2] quotes the Radvaz, [3] who writes that in addition to the concern that seeing one’s face can disrupt the kavana needed for tefillah, it may appear that one is bowing down to himself. He does say that closing one’s eyes alleviates the issue of kavana. The Shevet Halevi [4] raises the issue regarding a shul where the chazzan davens in front of a glass or metal plate that reflects his face. He writes that while it would be best not to put it there in the first place, there is room for leniency because it is apparent that it is not intended to serve as a mirror and thus there is little concern that it appears as if one is bowing down to himself. In order to alleviate the problem of distraction one can close their eyes.

While the Mishna Berura’s concern would apply to davening and reciting brachos, [5] it may be less of an issue regarding lighting Shabbos candles. This is due to the custom of many women to close their eyes when lighting Shabbos candles. This custom is based upon the opinion of the Behag quoted by the Shulchan Aruch, [6] which states that the recitation of the bracha when lighting candles is itself a form of accepting Shabbos. It is based upon this view that the Rema [7] cites some who believe that unlike all mitzvos when the bracha is said prior to performing a mitzvah – עובר לעשייתן, in this instance the bracha is said after lighting the candles, thereby allowing the woman to light the candles before accepting Shabbos. [8] But, in order to maintain some measure of עובר לעשייתן, it is it is best not to benefit from the candlelight until after the bracha, and therefore the Rema suggests that one block the candles. The Aruch Hashulchan [9] records that the custom is for women to cover their eyes until after reciting the bracha. He adds that at this time it is customary for women to daven for the spiritual growth of their children. [10] Interestingly, while this is the custom in most Ashkenazi circles, in the Sephardic community many women light the candles like all other mitzvos and recite the bracha first and then light the candles. [11] It emerges then that women recite the brachos and the subsequent tefillos in front of the candles while their eyes are covered, and even if there is a mirror there would be no concern. [12]

[1] 90:23

[2] 90:71

[3] Teshuvos Radvaz 4:107

[4] 9:21

[5] See Machatzis Hashekel 90:37, who assumes that this applies to all parts of davening and is not limited to Shemoneh Esrei.

[6] 263:10

[7] 263:5

[8] See R’ Akiva Eiger (glosses to Magen Avraham 12), who finds this entire concept difficult as one doesn’t accept Shabbos until they complete lighting all the candles irrespective of when the bracha is recited.

[9] 263:13

[10] See Shabbos 23b, Mishna Berura 2

[11] See Yabia Omer OC 9:108:122

[12] See Teshuvos V’Hanhagos 2:153, who discusses whether keeping her eyes closed when davening for an extended period of time prior to benefiting from the candles would be considered an interruption between the bracha and the benefit.