Moving the Shabbos Candles
Question: Once they are lit, may the Shabbos (or Yom Tov) candles be moved [by one who has not yet accepted the Shabbos] from one spot on the table or in the room, to another?
Discussion: Lechatchilah, no. The candles should remain where they were lit and not be moved from place to place, even within the same room. It is, therefore, incorrect to light candles in the succah and then bring them into the house before the meal is served. But bedieved, if there is a compelling reason to move the candles to another place in the same room,[i] they may be moved.[ii]
There are Poskim who maintain that once Shabbos candles have been lit they should not be moved[iii] at all (even by those who did not yet accept the Shabbos), even if they will be returned to the same place.[iv] Other Poskim, however, do not consider this to be an issue,[v] and the custom seems to follow the more lenient opinion.[vi] Still, unless there is a pressing need, the candles should not be moved at all in deference to the more stringent opinions.[vii]
[i] Or to another room (in the same house) which is being used on Friday night; See Chovas Hadar, Neiros Shabbos 2.
[ii] Mishnah Berurah 263, note 48. See also Kinyan Torah IV, 26, who opines that nowadays, when it is obvious that the candles were lit in honor of Shabbos, it is permitted to move them.
[iii] And, according to some opinions, even touched; see Beiur Halachah 263:14 (ד"ה ליגע)
[iv] Shulchan Aruch 263:14, as explained by Magen Avraham and Derech Hachayim. Pri Megadim, cited by Mishnah Berurah 263, note 57, agrees with them, except when moving the candles is needed for the sake of performing a mitzvah.
[v] Chayei Adam and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch do not mention this prohibition at all. See also Aruch Hashulchan 263:25, who rejects this stringency.
[vi] Tehillah LeDavid 263:12.
[vii] Minchas Shabbos 75:27; Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 43:40.