Shabbat Candles

Shabbat Candles

Shabbat candles (Hebrew: נרות שבת‎) are candles lit on Friday nights, 18 minutes before sunset, to usher in the Jewish Sabbath. Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law. Candlelighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household, but in the absence of a woman, it should be done by a man. After lighting the candles, the woman waves her hands over them, covers her eyes, and recites a blessing.