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.
Famous quotes containing the word candles:
“Chanuka and St. Nicholas Day came almost together this year—just one day’s difference. We didn’t make much fuss about Chanuka: we just gave each other a few little presents and then we had the candles. Because of the shortage of candles we only had them alight for ten minutes, but it is all right as long as you have the song.”
—Anne Frank (1929–1945)