Lighting a "Penalty Candle"

On a recent Friday afternoon, I lost track of time and it was too late to light Shabbos candles. Is it true that I now need to add a candle?

In the Sefer Minhagei Maharil[1] it is recorded that the Maharil’s niece once forgot to light Shabbos candles and he instructed her that moving forward she should add to her Shabbos candles. He also instructed her to repent for this sin when observing a fast day. The Rema[2] understood this to mean that she should light a third candle every Shabbos. The Rema is critical of what he refers to as חומרות רחוקות because it appears as בל תוסיף being that one is meant to light two candles corresponding to זכור ושמור.[3] Nevertheless, he does write that the custom of the women is to light an addition candle, and he dispels the concern of בל תוסיף. Thus, while he is critical of the custom, the Rema in his glosses to the Shulchan Aruch[4] does cite this custom to light additional candles.[5] Interestingly, the Elya Rabbah[6] writes that while the Rema understood than an extra candle must be lit, the language of the Maharil implies that the woman should light a larger candle, or more oil in response to her mistake.[7] The Sha’arei Teshuva[8] writes that better than adding oil or candles, one can assist those who are destitute and ensure that they have oil and candles.

The Bach,[9] cited by the Magen Avraham,[10] implies that this penalty was instituted to ensure and protect שלום בית and עונג שבת. If the woman of the home neglected to light candles, the family would be unable to enjoy Shabbos in the dark. In order to ensure that this won’t happen again, this penalty was introduced.[11] However, the Maharil himself implies that this punishment is due to the fact that this woman neglected her obligation. In an instance where there is ample light from other sources, e.g., electric lights, there is then little concern for diminished עונג שבת. But according to the logic of the Maharil, merely neglecting this mitzvah irrespective of any consequence triggers the punishment. Teshuvos Avnei Yashpeh[12] cites R’ Elyashiv, who felt that in an instance where there is light in the room the punishment does not apply. My father shlit”a too believes that the penalty of the Rema does not apply in our society when there is ample light in the home even without the Shabbos candles, and most certainly doesn’t apply if someone in the house turned on a light for Shabbos use.[13] While the Rema’s penalty is not in order if there is another source of light, the advice of the Sha’arei Teshuva is always in order.

[1] Shabbos 1

[2] Darkei Moshe 263:1

[3] Tur 263. The Beis Yosef 1 offers other reasons why two candles are lit.

[4] 263:1

[5] Orchos Shabbos 33 footnote 36 cites R’ Shlomo Zalman who explained the common practice of many women to light an additional candle for every child. Being that women on the first Shabbos after childbirth are unable to light candles (see Mishna Berurah 263:11), the custom developed to add an additional candle.

[6] 263:9

[7] See Mishnah Berurah 7

[8] 263:3

[9] 263:2

[10] 263:3

[11] He adds that if a woman was incarcerated and unable to fulfill the mitzvah, this punishment was not implemented. See Machatzis Hashekel d.h. Mishum.

[12] 1:55

[13] See Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa 43:5, footnote 30.