Every mitzvah brings light into the world. With certain mitzvot, the light generated can truly be seen and appreciated. Lighting Shabbat candles is one of those mitzvot.
Traditionally, the Shabbat candles are lit by the woman. This expresses the concept that the woman sets the tone in the house: it is her role, and she was divinely blessed with the ability to bring light and harmony to the home.
Some laws and customs:
- It is customary to place some coins in a piggy bank before lighting the candles.
- A man should light the candles if no adult woman is present.
- The candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset.
- Girls from the age of three light a candle and must do so before their mothers.
- After the wedding, they light two candles. It is customary to light an additional candle for each son or daughter.
The blessing before lighting the candles, in phonetics:
Baruch atá Adon-ái Elo-héinu meléch haOlam ashér kideshánu beMitzvotáv veTzivánu lehadlík ner shel Shabbat kodesh
In Spanish:
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the candles of the holy Shabbat.