Candlelighters
a place for women who cherish the Torah ~Shabbat
As women, our role in the ceremony of Shabbat is vital. We begin the Sabbath with our blessing, welcoming it into our home with the peace and joy essential to the Day of Rest.
Shabbat is a symbol of our rest in Messiah, as well as a commemoration of the Israelites’ redemption from slavery in Egypt and G-d’s creation of the universe. Shabbat reaches into the future and gives us a taste of the rest we will have when Messiah comes. Tradition, as well as the Bible in some ways, treats Shabbat as the most holy and joyous day on the calendar.
Traditional & Rabbinical Customs
Tradition has always taught that the woman of the house not only bakes the challah bread – not forgetting to take off that extra for HaShem and pronounce the blessing – but also prepares the home for the Sabbath. We do this by making sure that there is no clutter to detract from our rest, the table is set and ready, and food is prepared ahead of time for meals the following day. Finally, we light the Sabbath candles, repeating the words passed down through the ages by women all over the world:
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha-olam,
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav
vitzivanu, l’hadleik, ner shel Shabbat. Amen.
Blessed are You, Adonai our G-d, King of the Universe,
Who has sanctified us with His commandments,
and commanded us to kindle the Sabbath lights. Amen.
It is customary to light at least two candles, or two plus one for every child. The woman circles the flames with her hands slowly three times, and then covers her eyes that she might not benefit from the light of the candles before it has been blessed. She recites the blessing with her eyes still covered. Removing her hands, she gazes at the flames, benefiting from their light.
Jewish sages teach in the Talmud, “One who is scrupulous in the kindling of Shabbat lights will be blessed with children who are Torah scholars.” Obviously, this is every mother and future mother’s dream! Therefore, it is traditional to recite the following prayer after lighting:
May it be your will, HaShem, my G-d and the G-d of my forefathers, that You show favor to me [my husband, my sons, my daughters, my father, my mother] and all my relatives; and that You grant us and all Israel a good and long life; that You remember us with a beneficent memory and blessing; that You consider us with a consideration of salvation and compassion; that You bless us with great blessings; that You make our households complete; that You cause Your Presence to dwell among us. Privilege me to raise children and grandchildren who are wise and understanding, who love HaShem and fear G-d, people of truth, holy offspring, attached to HaShem, who illuminate the world with Torah and good deeds and with every labor in the service of the Creator. Please, hear my supplication at this time, in the merit of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, our mothers, and cause our light to illuminate that it not be extinguished forever, and let Your countenance shine so that we are saved. Amen.
Our Family Traditions
Our family begins the Sabbath with our mother lighting the candles in the traditional way. We wait silently, joining in her “Amen”, to welcome the Sabbath into our home. Our father sings the Kiddush, finishing with the HaMotzi. We have a large dinner, though not always meat or fish, as is rabbinical tradition. Our meals for the Sabbath day are prepared beforehand, on Friday, so as to do as little work as possible on Shabbat.
We do not follow the traditional ban of electricity, heat, etc. We refrain from using anything with a visible flame, as well as the stove. G-d declared that the Sabbath should be a delight, and that we should take pleasure in it, as He does. How can you be happy when you are freezing?
We finish Shabbat with the traditional Havdalah ceremony, before which all the women in our household recite the Gott Fun Avrohom Yiddish prayer:
G-d of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, protect Your people, Israel, from all evil in Your praise – as the beloved, Holy Sabbath takes leave – that the coming week may arrive to bring perfect faith, faith in scholars, love of and attachment to good friends, attachment to the Creator, Blessed is He, to have faith in Your Thirteen Principles, and in the complete and close Redemption, speedily in our days, in the Resuscitation of the Dead and in the prophecy of our teacher, Moses, peace is upon him. Master of the universe, since You are the One Who gives strength to the exhausted – give Your beloved Jewish children the strength to praise You, and to serve only You and no other. May this week arrive for kindness, for good fortune, for blessing, for success, for good health, for wealth and honor, and for children, life, and sustenance, for us and for all Israel. Amen.
And so the Sabbath ends, as we joyfully look forward to the coming week, confident in G-d’s blessing of us and our lives!
torahgirl
