QUESTION: Why is it customary for the woman of the house to light the Shabbos candles?

ANSWER: Shulchan Aruch (263:2-3) writes that the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles is incumbent on both men and women. It is therefore somewhat surprising that generally women rather than men perform this mitzvah. One explanation for this is that women were awarded this mitzvah because they are the ones who primarily prepare the home for Shabbos. The Tur (based on the Medrash) offers another explanation. Lighting candles helps atone for the sin of Chava which took place on erev Shabbos. The Mishnah Berurah (263:11) writes that the husband should set up the candles so as to have a portion in the mitzvah.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.