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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman רס״ג · 17 Se'ifim
The central mitzvah of lighting the Shabbos candles
סימן רס״ג
מי ומי המדליקין ואם טעו ביום המעונן
🌱 Introductory Level · Beginners
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The great siman of the candles. 17 se'ifim that codify the whole topic: who must light (woman has priority), how many candles (2 minimum, Zakhor/Shamor), the brachah (before/after — minhag of covering the eyes), kabbalas Shabbos through lighting, the traveler, the yeshivah bachur, the cloudy day error. The quintessential women's mitzvah, foundation of the Jewish home (shalom bayis).
📑 Study plan
1. The major se'ifim of the Shulchan Aruch
2. General context — the central mitzvah
3. Key concept 1 — Woman has priority and 2 wicks (Zakhor/Shamor)
4. Key concept 2 — The brachah (before/after — minhag of covered eyes)
5. Key concept 3 — Kabbalas Shabbos through lighting
6. The details of the 17 se'ifim
7. Position of the Rema — minhag, conditioning, where to place the candles
8. Modern practical cases
9. Practical synthesis
10. Comprehension questions
1. The major se'ifim of the Shulchan Aruch
Se'if Alef — Beautiful candle, 2 wicks Zakhor/Shamor
מִי וּמִי הַמַּדְלִיקִין וְאִם טָעוּ בְּיוֹם הַמְעוּנָּן. וּבוֹ י"ז סְעִיפִים.
יְהֵא זָהִיר לַעֲשׂוֹת נֵר יָפֶה, וְיֵשׁ מְכַוְּנִים לַעֲשׂוֹת שְׁתֵּי פְתִילוֹת, אֶחָד כְּנֶגֶד "זָכוֹר" וְאֶחָד כְּנֶגֶד "שָׁמוֹר". הגה: וִיכוֹלִין לְהוֹסִיף וּלְהַדְלִיק ג' אוֹ ד' נֵרוֹת, וְכֵן נָהֲגוּ. הָאִשָּׁה שֶׁשָּׁכְחָה פַּעַם אַחַת לְהַדְלִיק, מַדְלֶקֶת כָּל יָמֶיהָ ג' נֵרוֹת (מהרי"ל), כִּי יְכוֹלִין לְהוֹסִיף עַל דָּבָר הַמְכוּוָן נֶגֶד דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִפְחוֹת (אשירי' ומרדכי מס' ר"ה ריש פ' י"ט).
"Who lights, and what if they erred on a cloudy day" — 17 se'ifim. One should be careful to make a beautiful candle. Some specifically intend to make 2 wicks — one corresponding to זָכוֹר, the other to שָׁמוֹר (the 2 versions of the Shabbos commandment in Shemos 20 vs. Devarim 5).
Hagahah of the Rema: one may add and light 3 or 4 candles — that is the practice. A woman who once forgot to light — lights 3 candles for the rest of her life [Maharil], for one may add to a thing fixed in correspondence to something else — provided one does not diminish [Asheri and Mordechai, Rosh Hashanah].
Hagahah of the Rema: one may add and light 3 or 4 candles — that is the practice. A woman who once forgot to light — lights 3 candles for the rest of her life [Maharil], for one may add to a thing fixed in correspondence to something else — provided one does not diminish [Asheri and Mordechai, Rosh Hashanah].
Se'if Beis — Men AND women obligated; even a pauper
אֶחָד הָאֲנָשִׁים וְאֶחָד הַנָּשִׁים — חַיָּבִים לִהְיוֹת בְּבָתֵּיהֶם נֵר דָּלוּק בְּשַׁבָּת. אֲפִלּוּ אֵין לוֹ מַה יֹּאכַל — שׁוֹאֵל עַל הַפְּתָחִים וְלוֹקֵחַ שֶׁמֶן וּמַדְלִיק אֶת הַנֵּר, שֶׁזֶּה בִּכְלַל עֹנֶג שַׁבָּת הוּא.
Men and women — all obligated to have a candle lit on Shabbos. Even a pauper who has nothing to eat — he begs at doorways to obtain oil and light. This is included in עונג שבת (Shabbos delight).
Se'if Gimel — Woman has priority; Shabbos candles before Chanukah candles
הַנָּשִׁים מֻזְהָרוֹת בּוֹ יוֹתֵר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּצוּיוֹת בַּבַּיִת וְעוֹסְקוֹת בְּצָרְכֵי הַבַּיִת. וְאִם אֵין יָדוֹ מַשֶּׂגֶת לִקְנוֹת נֵר לְשַׁבָּת וּלְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם — נֵר שַׁבָּת קוֹדֵם. וְכֵן אִם אֵין יָדוֹ מַשֶּׂגֶת לִקְנוֹת נֵר שַׁבָּת וְנֵר לַחֲנוּכָּה — נֵר שַׁבָּת קוֹדֵם, מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם הַבַּיִת — דְּאֵין שָׁלוֹם בַּיִת בְּלֹא נֵר.
Women are admonished more on this mitzvah — because they are at home and busy with household needs. Order of priority in case of poverty:
- Shabbos candles vs. Kiddush (wine) of the day → candles take priority
- Shabbos candles vs. Chanukah candles → Shabbos candles take priority (because of שלום הבית, household peace)
שלום הבית — household peace depends on illumination. Without candles, the house is dark, people stumble, tempers flare. So nér Shabbos comes before everything.
Se'if Daled — Not too early, not too late
לֹא יַקְדִּים לְמַהֵר לְהַדְלִיקוֹ בְּעוֹד הַיּוֹם גָּדוֹל — שֶׁאָז אֵינוֹ נִכָּר שֶׁמַּדְלִיקוֹ לִכְבוֹד שַׁבָּת. וְגַם לֹא יְאַחֵר. וְאִם רוֹצֶה לְהַדְלִיק נֵר בְּעוֹד הַיּוֹם גָּדוֹל וּלְקַבֵּל עָלָיו שַׁבָּת מִיָּד — רַשַּׁאי, כִּי כֵּיוָן שֶׁמְּקַבֵּל עָלָיו שַׁבָּת מִיָּד אֵין זוֹ הַקְדָּמָה. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיְּהֵא מִפְּלַג הַמִּנְחָה וּלְמַעְלָה, שֶׁהִיא שָׁעָה וּרְבִיעַ קוֹדֶם הַלַּיְלָה. הגה: וְעַיֵּן לְקַמָּן סִימָן רס"ז. וְאִם הָיָה הַנֵּר דּוֹלֵק מִבְּעוֹד הַיּוֹם גָּדוֹל, יְכַבֶּנּוּ וְיַחֲזוֹר וְיַדְלִיקֶנּוּ לְצוֹרֶךְ שַׁבָּת (טור).
Not too early (otherwise it is not recognizable as nér Shabbos). Not too late either. Special case: if one wishes to light early and accept Shabbos immediately — that is permitted, for since he accepts Shabbos immediately it is not a premature lighting; provided it is after פלג המנחה — an hour and a quarter before nightfall (cf. siman רס״א).
Hagahah of the Rema: see further siman 267. And if the candle was already burning from while it was still broad daylight — he should extinguish it and relight it for the sake of Shabbos [Tur].
Hagahah of the Rema: see further siman 267. And if the candle was already burning from while it was still broad daylight — he should extinguish it and relight it for the sake of Shabbos [Tur].
Se'if Hei — The brachah (before/after) + minhag of covered eyes
כְּשֶׁיַּדְלִיק יְבָרֵךְ : "בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת". אֶחָד הָאִישׁ וְאֶחָד הָאִשָּׁה. גַּם בְּיוֹם טוֹב צָרִיךְ לְבָרֵךְ "לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב", וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים בְּלֹא שַׁבָּת יֵשׁ מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר שֶׁלֹּא יְבָרֵךְ, וְעַיֵּן לְקַמָּן סִימָן תר"י. הגה: יֵשׁ מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר שֶׁמְּבָרְכִין קוֹדֶם הַהַדְלָקָה, וְיֵשׁ מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר שֶׁמְּבָרֵךְ אַחַר הַהַדְלָקָה (מרדכי סוף ב"מ). וּכְדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא עוֹבֵר לַעֲשִׂיָּתוֹ — לֹא יְהַנֶּה מִמֶּנּוּ עַד לְאַחַר הַבְּרָכָה. וּמְשִׂימִין הַיָּד לִפְנֵי הַנֵּר אַחַר הַהַדְלָקָה וּמְבָרְכִין, וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְסַלְּקִין הַיָּד. וְזֶה מִקְרֵי "עוֹבֵר לַעֲשִׂיָּה" — וְכֵן הַמִּנְהָג (מהרי"ל).
Brachah: "Baruch atah Hashem... lehadlik nér shel Shabbos". Men and women alike say it. Likewise on Yom Tov one must recite "lehadlik nér shel Yom Tov"; and on Yom Kippur without Shabbos, there is an opinion that one does not recite a brachah — see further siman 610.
Hagahah of the Rema (Machlokes on order) [Mordechai end of Bava Metzia; minhag: Maharil]:
Hagahah of the Rema (Machlokes on order) [Mordechai end of Bava Metzia; minhag: Maharil]:
- Yesh omrim: brachah before lighting (= general rule, "over la'asyatan")
- Yesh omrim: brachah after lighting
The practical minhag: a woman's lighting is done with eyes covered by the hands. Light — cover — bless — uncover and look. It is a choreography that resolves the Mechaber/Rema machlokes.
Se'if Vav — Yeshivah bochurim away from home
בַּחוּרִים הַהוֹלְכִים לִלְמוֹד חוּץ לְבֵיתָם — צְרִיכִים לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שַׁבָּת בְּחַדְרָם וּלְבָרֵךְ עָלָיו. אֲבָל מִי שֶׁהוּא אֵצֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ — אֵין צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק בְּחַדְרוֹ וּלְבָרֵךְ עָלָיו, לְפִי שֶׁאִשְׁתּוֹ מְבָרֶכֶת בִּשְׁבִילוֹ.
Bochurim in yeshivah away from home — must light in their room + recite the brachah.
Married man at home — no need (his wife recites the brachah for the household).
Married man at home — no need (his wife recites the brachah for the household).
Se'ifim Zayin–Tes — Special lighting cases (guest, multiple בעלי בתים, distance)
[ז] אוֹרֵחַ שֶׁאֵין לוֹ חֶדֶר מְיֻחָד וְגַם אֵין מַדְלִיקִין עָלָיו בְּבֵיתוֹ — צָרִיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּתֵּף בִּפְרוּטָה.
[ח] ב' אוֹ ג' בַּעֲלֵי בָתִּים אוֹכְלִים בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד — יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד מְבָרֵךְ עַל מְנוֹרָה שֶׁלּוֹ, וְיֵשׁ מְגַמְגֵּם בַּדָּבָר, וְנָכוֹן לִיזָּהֵר בִּסְפֵק בְּרָכוֹת וְלֹא יְבָרֵךְ אֶלָּא אֶחָד. הגה: אֲבָל אָנוּ אֵין נוֹהֲגִין כֵּן.
[ט] הַמַּדְלִיקִין בְּזָוִיּוֹת הַבַּיִת וְאוֹכְלִים בֶּחָצֵר — אִם אֵין הַנֵּרוֹת אֲרוּכּוֹת שֶׁדּוֹלְקוֹת עַד הַלַּיְלָה, הָוֵי בְּרָכָה לְבַטָּלָה.
Se'if Zayin — Guest: a guest (אורח) who has no private room, and for whom no one is lighting at his own home either — must join in [his host's candles] with a perutah.
Se'if Ches — Two or three בעלי בתים in one place: some say each one recites the brachah on his own menorah; but there is one who hesitates (מגמגם) about this, and it is proper to be careful regarding a doubtful brachah: only one should recite it. Hagahah of the Rema: but we do not follow this practice (each one recites on his own).
Se'if Tes — Candles that must burn into the night: those who light in a corner of the house and eat in the courtyard — if the candles are not long enough to burn until nightfall, it is a brachah l'vatalah (a vain blessing).
Se'if Ches — Two or three בעלי בתים in one place: some say each one recites the brachah on his own menorah; but there is one who hesitates (מגמגם) about this, and it is proper to be careful regarding a doubtful brachah: only one should recite it. Hagahah of the Rema: but we do not follow this practice (each one recites on his own).
Se'if Tes — Candles that must burn into the night: those who light in a corner of the house and eat in the courtyard — if the candles are not long enough to burn until nightfall, it is a brachah l'vatalah (a vain blessing).
Se'if Yod — Kabbalas Shabbos through lighting (cardinal)
לְבַעַל הֲלָכוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת — כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת חָל עָלָיו שַׁבָּת וְנֶאֱסָר בִּמְלָאכָה. וְעַל פִּי זֶה נוֹהֲגוֹת קְצָת נָשִׁים שֶׁאַחַר שֶׁבֵּרְכוּ וְהִדְלִיקוּ הַנֵּרוֹת — מַשְׁלִיכוֹת לָאָרֶץ הַפְּתִילָה שֶׁבְּיָדָן שֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ בָהּ, וְאֵין מְכַבּוֹת אוֹתָהּ. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאִם מַתְנֶה קוֹדֶם שֶׁתַּדְלִיק שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְקַבֶּלֶת שַׁבָּת עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר הַחַזָּן בָּרְכוּ — מוֹעִיל. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֵינוֹ מוֹעִיל לָהּ. וְיֵשׁ חוֹלְקִים עַל בַּעַל הֲלָכוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת וְאוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֵין קַבָּלַת שַׁבָּת תָּלוּי בְּהַדְלָקַת הַנֵּר אֶלָּא בִּתְפִלַּת עַרְבִית, שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמַר הַחַזָּן בָּרְכוּ הַכֹּל פּוֹרְשִׁין מִמְּלַאכְתָּם. וּלְדִידָן, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִתְחִילוּ "מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת" — הָוֵי כְּבָרְכוּ לְדִידְהוּ. הגה: וְהַמִּנְהָג שֶׁאוֹתָהּ אִשָּׁה הַמַּדְלֶקֶת מְקַבֶּלֶת שַׁבָּת בַּהַדְלָקָה — אִם לֹא שֶׁהִתְנָה תְּחִלָּה, וַאֲפִלּוּ תְּנַאי בַּלֵּב סַגִּי (מרדכי). אֲבָל שְׁאָר בְּנֵי הַבַּיִת מֻתָּרִין בִּמְלָאכָה עַד בָּרְכוּ. וְעִיקַר הַדְלָקָה תְּלוּיָה בַּנֵּרוֹת שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן, אֲבָל לֹא בִּשְׁאָר הַנֵּרוֹת שֶׁבַּבַּיִת (אור זרוע). וְצָרִיךְ לְהַנִּיחַ הַנֵּרוֹת בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין, וְלֹא לְהַדְלִיק בְּמָקוֹם זֶה וּלְהַנִּיחַ בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר (מרדכי פ' ב"מ).
According to the Bahag (בעל הלכות גדולות): as soon as one lights — Shabbos is upon him, no more melakha permitted. Practice of some women: throw down the wick that was used to light (do not extinguish it — forbidden on Shabbos).
Prior conditioning: some opinions hold that one may condition before lighting "I am not accepting Shabbos until Barekhu" — and that is effective. Others say the condition does not help her. And others dispute the Bahag: kabbalas Shabbos does not depend on lighting the candle but on tefillas Arvis — once the chazzan says Barchu, everyone withdraws from their melachah; and for us, once Mizmor shir l'yom haShabbos has been begun, it is like their Barchu.
Hagahah of the Rema (received practice):
Prior conditioning: some opinions hold that one may condition before lighting "I am not accepting Shabbos until Barekhu" — and that is effective. Others say the condition does not help her. And others dispute the Bahag: kabbalas Shabbos does not depend on lighting the candle but on tefillas Arvis — once the chazzan says Barchu, everyone withdraws from their melachah; and for us, once Mizmor shir l'yom haShabbos has been begun, it is like their Barchu.
Hagahah of the Rema (received practice):
- The woman who lights automatically accepts Shabbos through the lighting — unless she conditioned beforehand
- The conditioning may even be "in the heart" (תנאי בלב suffices) [Mordechai]
- But the other members of the household remain in chol until Barchu (at shul)
- The essential lighting depends on the candles lit on the table — not on the other candles in the house [Or Zarua]
- One must place the candles where they are lit — not light in one place and set them down in another [Mordechai]
Se'ifim 11-17 — Acceptance, traveler, cloudy day
Se'if 11 — An individual who davened Shabbos Arvis before the community
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הִתְפַּלְּלוּ הַקָּהָל עֲדַיִין, אִם קָדַם הַיָּחִיד וְהִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁל שַׁבָּת מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם — חָל עָלָיו קַבָּלַת שַׁבָּת וְאָסוּר בַּעֲשִׂיַּת מְלָאכָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם אוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה לְקַבֵּל שַׁבָּת.
Even though the congregation has not yet davened — if an individual went ahead and davened the Shabbos tefillah while it was still day, kabbalas Shabbos takes effect upon him and he is forbidden to do melachah, even if he says he does not wish to accept Shabbos.
Se'if 12 — The majority pulls the minority along
אִם רוֹב הַקָּהָל קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם שַׁבָּת — הַמִּעוּט נִמְשָׁכִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם בְּעַל כָּרְחָם.
If the majority of the congregation accepted Shabbos — the minority is drawn along after them, against their will.
Se'if 13 — Arriving in a town that has already accepted Shabbos
אָדָם שֶׁבָּא לָעִיר בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וּכְבָר קִבְּלוּ אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר עֲלֵיהֶם שַׁבָּת, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִין הַיּוֹם גָּדוֹל — אִם הָיוּ עָלָיו מָעוֹת אוֹ שׁוּם חֵפֶץ, מַנִּיחוֹ לִיפּוֹל.
A man who arrives in town on erev Shabbos when the townspeople have already accepted Shabbos — even though it is still broad daylight: if he was carrying money or any object, he lets it fall.
Se'if 14 — The cloudy-day error
אִם בְּיוֹם הַמְעוּנָּן טָעוּ צִבּוּר וְחָשְׁבוּ שֶׁחָשְׁכָה, וְהִדְלִיקוּ נֵרוֹת וְהִתְפַּלְּלוּ תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית שֶׁל שַׁבָּת, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִתְפַּזְּרוּ הֶעָבִים וְזָרְחָה חַמָּה — אֵינָם צְרִיכִים לַחֲזוֹר וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית, אִם כְּשֶׁהִתְפַּלְּלוּ הָיָה מִפְּלַג הַמִּנְחָה וּלְמַעְלָה. וְאִם יָחִיד הוּא שֶׁטָּעָה בְּכָךְ — צָרִיךְ הוּא לַחֲזוֹר וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית. וּלְעִנְיַן עֲשִׂיַּת מְלָאכָה — בֵּין צִבּוּר בֵּין יָחִיד מֻתָּרִים, דְּקַבָּלַת שַׁבָּת הָיְתָה בְּטָעוּת. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאוֹתָם שֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ נֵרוֹת אֲסוּרִים בַּעֲשִׂיַּת מְלָאכָה וּשְׁאָר אַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת מֻתָּרִין. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאוֹתוֹ נֵר שֶׁהוּדְלַק לְשֵׁם שַׁבָּת — אָסוּר לִיגַּע בּוֹ וּלְהוֹסִיף בּוֹ שֶׁמֶן, אֲפִלּוּ אִם כָּבָה אָסוּר לְטַלְטְלוֹ.
If on a cloudy day the community erred and thought night had fallen — they lit candles and davened Shabbos Arvis — and afterwards the clouds scattered and the sun shone: they need not daven Arvis again, provided that when they davened it was after פלג המנחה. But an individual who erred this way must daven Arvis again. As for melachah: both community and individual are permitted, since the kabbalas Shabbos was in error. Some say that those who lit the candles are forbidden to do melachah, while the other members of the household are permitted. And some say that the candle lit for the sake of Shabbos — one may not touch it or add oil to it; even if it went out, one may not move it.
Se'if 15 — One who delayed davening Minchah
מִי שֶׁשָּׁהָה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל מִנְחָה בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת עַד שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ הַקָּהָל שַׁבָּת — לֹא יִתְפַּלֵּל מִנְחָה בְּאוֹתוֹ בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת, אֶלָּא יֵלֵךְ חוּץ לְאוֹתוֹ בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְיִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלָּה שֶׁל חוֹל. וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא קִבֵּל שַׁבָּת עִמָּהֶם; אֲבָל אִם עָנָה וְקִבֵּל שַׁבָּת עִמָּהֶם — אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת חוֹל, אֶלָּא יִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית שְׁתַּיִם.
One who delayed davening Minchah on erev Shabbos until the congregation accepted Shabbos — should not daven Minchah in that shul: he should go outside that shul and daven a weekday tefillah. That is, if he did not accept Shabbos with them; but if he answered and accepted Shabbos with them — he can no longer daven a weekday tefillah: he davens Arvis twice.
Se'if 16 — Arrived right before the community's acceptance
אִם בָּא לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת סָמוּךְ לְקַבָּלַת הַצִּבּוּר שַׁבָּת — מַתְחִיל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל מִנְחָה, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבְּעוֹדוֹ מִתְפַּלֵּל יְקַבְּלוּ הַצִּבּוּר שַׁבָּת, אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם — הוֹאִיל וְהִתְחִיל בְּהֶיתֵּר.
If he comes to shul shortly before the congregation accepts Shabbos — he begins davening Minchah; and even if while he is davening the congregation accepts Shabbos, it does not matter — since he began with permission (הואיל והתחיל בהיתר).
Se'if 17 — Asking a Jew who has not yet accepted Shabbos
יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁמִּי שֶׁקִּיבֵּל עָלָיו שַׁבָּת קוֹדֶם שֶׁחָשְׁכָה — מֻתָּר לוֹמַר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל חֲבֵירוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ מְלָאכָה. הגה: וּמֻתָּר לֵיהָנוֹת מֵאוֹתָהּ הַמְּלָאכָה בְּשַׁבָּת, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת. וּמִי שֶׁמְּאַחֵר לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת אוֹ שֶׁמַּמְשִׁיךְ סְעוּדָתוֹ בַּלַּיְלָה — מֻתָּר לוֹמַר לַחֲבֵרוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁכְּבָר הִתְפַּלֵּל וְהִבְדִּיל לַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ מְלַאכְתּוֹ, לְהַדְלִיק לוֹ נֵרוֹת וּלְבַשֵּׁל לוֹ, וּמֻתָּר לֵיהָנוֹת וְלֶאֱכוֹל מִמְּלַאכְתּוֹ, כֵּן נִרְאֶה לִי.
Some say that one who accepted Shabbos upon himself before nightfall — may tell his fellow Jew to do a melachah for him. Hagahah of the Rema: and it is permitted to benefit from that melachah on Shabbos, and all the more so on motza'ei Shabbos. And one who davens late on motza'ei Shabbos, or extends his seudah into the night — may tell his fellow Jew who has already davened and made havdalah to do his melachah for him: to light candles and cook for him — and he may benefit from and eat of his melachah; so it appears to me.
| Se'if | Topic | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Individual who davens Maariv early | Accepts Shabbos (even alone) |
| 12 | Majority of the community accepts | The minority is dragged along |
| 13 | Traveler arriving in a town | If the town has accepted — he sets down his things and acts no further |
| 14 | Cloudy day error (community) | No need to re-daven; melakha permitted (acceptance through error) |
| 15 | Delayed in saying Minchah | Step out of shul to daven the day-tefillah |
| 16 | Arrived right before acceptance | May begin Minchah b'hetter |
| 17 | Accepted Shabbos early + another Jew did not | May ask him to perform a melakha on one's behalf |
2. General context
What is this siman about?
Siman רס״ג is the densest of the preparation simanim (17 se'ifim). It codifies the central mitzvah of lighting the Shabbos candles — which structures the life of the Jewish home. Three axes:
| Axis | Se'ifim | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| A — Mitzvah | 1-3 | What (beautiful candle, 2 wicks), who (woman), priority (before Chanukah) |
| B — Technical act | 4-9 | When, brachah, where, bochur, guest |
| C — Acceptance | 10-17 | Lighting = acceptance, conditioning, traveler, cloudy day |
The founding talmudic sugya — Shabbos 23b–25b: "הדלקת נר בשבת חובה" (lighting the Shabbos candle is an obligation). The gemara discusses: who is obligated, why (oneg, kavod, shalom bayis), with what (permitted oils, wicks), when. Halachic source: a mitzvah d'rabbanan, but with a status of a corrective mitzvah (it corrects the lack of light).
Connection with neighboring simanim
| Siman | Topic | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| רס״א | Timing (18 min, פלג, etc.) | Temporal prerequisite |
| רס״ב | Set table + reception | Setting of the home |
| רס״ג | Mitzvah of lighting | — |
| רס״ד | Permitted wicks and oils | Technical details of the lighting |
| רס״ה | Lamps as signs | Ancillary cases (permanent lamp, etc.) |
3. Key concept 1 — Woman has priority and 2 wicks
הַנָּשִׁים מֻזְהָרוֹת בּוֹ יוֹתֵר — women are more bound by this mitzvah. Three traditional reasons:
- Practical: they are at home and handle household affairs (Mechaber, Se'if Gimel)
- Symbolic (Midrash): Chavah "extinguished the light of the world" by having Adam eat from the tree. Women repair by kindling the light of Shabbos
- Spiritual: the woman is the neshamah of the home, and the candle is a metaphor for the soul ("נר ה' נשמת אדם" — Mishlei 20:27)
| Number of candles | Custom |
|---|---|
| 2 (minimum) | זָכוֹר and שָׁמוֹר — the 2 versions of the commandment (Shemos 20 vs. Devarim 5) |
| 3 or 4 | "וכן נהגו" (Rema) — added practice |
| 3 if previous forgetting | Woman who once forgot — 3 candles for the rest of her life (Maharil) |
| 1 per child + 2 base | Chabad and chassidic custom: add 1 candle per child born |
| 1 (girls) | Girls from age 3: 1 candle each (Chabad: strong practice) |
4. Key concept 2 — The brachah (before/after)
Mechaber/Rema machlokes on the brachah-lighting order:
- Mechaber (Sefardim's reference): brachah before (= general rule "over la'asyatan" — the brachah precedes the act)
- Rema (Ashkenazi reference): brachah after — because saying the brachah = kabbalas Shabbos = one can no longer light
The minhag-solution (Maharil): light → place hands before the eyes → bless → remove hands → "look at" the light. Brilliant:
- The lighting is physically before the brachah (Rema's resolution: no acceptance problem since one has not yet "seen" / benefited)
- But the brachah is functionally before the enjoyment of the light (Mechaber's resolution: this is over la'asyatan in the sense of benefit)
5. Key concept 3 — Acceptance through lighting
Cardinal חידוש of the Bahag (Bahag = ספר הלכות גדולות, 9th c.): lighting the candles = halachic kabbalas Shabbos. The woman who lights automatically enters Shabbos at the moment she recites the brachah, unless she mentally conditions beforehand.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Lighting = acceptance for the woman who lights? | Yes (Rema: accepted minhag) |
| Lighting = acceptance for the husband and children? | No — they accept through Barekhu (man, shul) or Mizmor (home) |
| Can one condition not to accept? | Yes — even "in the heart" (תנאי בלב) suffices (Mordechai) |
| What is the standard minhag? | No regular conditioning — accepting through lighting is the ideal |
Practical consequence: the woman who lights can no longer, after the lighting, drive a car, turn lights on/off, etc. She is in Shabbos. But the husband, who has not yet left for shul, may still drive to the synagogue or light whatever needs to be lit.
6. Detail of the 17 se'ifim (synthesis)
| Se'if | Topic | Conduct |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beautiful candle; 2 wicks Zakhor/Shamor | Aesthetic + symbolic mitzvah. Rema: 3-4 OK; penitential 3 if forgot |
| 2 | Men and women obligated; even a pauper | Universal — dimension of oneg Shabbos |
| 3 | Women take priority; Shabbos candle before Chanukah candle | Shalom bayis takes precedence |
| 4 | Not too early, not too late | Unless one accepts Shabbos early (≥ פלג המנחה) |
| 5 | Brachah + minhag of covered eyes | Light → cover → bless → uncover |
| 6 | Yeshivah bachurim | Must light + bless in their room |
| 7 | Guest without dedicated room | Join by פרוטה |
| 8 | Several baalei batim in same place | Each one blesses (current minhag); historical controversy |
| 9 | Candles lit far from where one eats | If candles are short (extinguish before nightfall) = ברכה לבטלה |
| 10 | Acceptance through lighting (Bahag) + conditioning | Woman accepts automatically; conditioning possible "in the heart" |
| 11 | Individual who davens Maariv early | Accepts Shabbos (even alone, not with the community) |
| 12 | Majority of community accepts | Minority dragged along בעל כורחם |
| 13 | Traveler arriving in town | If town has accepted — sets down belongings, acts no more |
| 14 | Cloudy day error (community) | No re-davening; melakha permitted (acceptance through error) |
| 15 | Delayed in Minchah | Step out of shul to say it |
| 16 | Arrived just before acceptance | Start Minchah b'hetter — finish even if Kabbalas Shabbos starts |
| 17 | Accepted early + ask another Jew | Permitted (the other has not yet accepted) |
7. Position of the Rema
| Topic | Rema's position |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 3-4 OK; 3 lifelong if forgotten (Maharil) |
| Brachah before or after | Minhag of covered eyes (Maharil) — received practice |
| Acceptance through lighting (Se'if Yod) | Woman accepts; conditioning "in the heart" valid; rest of household free until Barekhu |
| Position of the candles | "וצריך להניח הנרות במקום שמדליקין" — where one lights = where one places. Do not light then move |
| Several baalei batim (Se'if Ches) | "אבל אנו אין נוהגין כן" — minhag: each blesses separately |
8. Modern practical cases
Case 1 — Woman at home lighting
Case: standard lighting ritual on Friday evening.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Prepare 2 candles minimum (3 if previously forgotten; +1 per child in Chabad)
- Light 18 minutes before sunset
- Hands before the eyes after lighting
- Bless: "...lehadlik nér shel Shabbos kodesh" (Chabad adds "kodesh")
- Remove the hands, look at the light
- Recite "Mizmor shir leyom haShabbos" (verbal acceptance + personal blessing)
Case 2 — Yeshivah student away from home
Case: a bochur lives in yeshivah far from the parental home.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Must light in his room + brachah
- If he goes home to his parents for Shabbos — the mother blesses for the household, he need not
- If he is married and his wife stays at home — she blesses; he does not
Case 3 — Traveler in a hotel
Case: arrival at a hotel on Friday.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- If a dedicated room: light + brachah (the traveler's candles)
- If no dedicated room: פרוטה to the owner (joining the home/hotel candles)
- Modern caution: use LED candles if the hotel forbids flame — but this does not ideally fulfill the mitzvah (poskim machlokes)
Case 4 — Prior conditioning
Case: woman wants to light then complete a mundane act (send a text, close an electronic faucet).
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Condition mentally beforehand: "I am not accepting Shabbos through lighting"
- Light + bless + perform the mundane act
- Then say "Mizmor" (= verbal acceptance)
- Exceptional practice; not on a regular basis (Rema)
Case 5 — Woman who forgot to light
Case: woman gets home after sunset, has not lit.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- If still before bein hashemashos (= 13 min after sunset) — may light hastily with brachah
- If during bein hashemashos — forbidden for her; ask a non-Jew if possible
- If after the stars — lost the mitzvah for that week
- Penance: according to the Rema, light 3 candles all her life in memory of the omission
Case 6 — Girls from age 3 (Chabad)
Case: in Chabad, little girls light one candle from age 3.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- One candle per girl (in addition to the mother's candles)
- Brachah supervised by the mother
- Educational + spiritual practice (the Lubavitcher Rebbe strongly encouraged this)
- Other communities: begin at bas-mitzvah (12)
9. Practical synthesis of the siman
The 6 teachings of Siman רס״ג:
- Universal mitzvah — men AND women, even paupers (oneg Shabbos)
- Woman has priority — symbolic repair + practical (at home)
- 2 wicks Zakhor/Shamor — recalling the two versions of the commandment
- Shalom bayis priority — Shabbos candle before Chanukah candle
- Brachah — minhag of covered eyes (light → cover → bless → uncover)
- Acceptance through lighting (Bahag) — the woman enters Shabbos; conditioning possible "in the heart"
Practical decision table
| Situation | Conduct |
|---|---|
| Woman at home | Lights at least 2 candles, brachah with covered eyes, accepts Shabbos |
| Student in yeshivah | Lights + blesses in his room |
| Married man, wife at home | Wife blesses for the household; he need not |
| Traveler in hotel | Lights if dedicated room; else פרוטה |
| Pauper without candles | Beg at doorways (universal oneg Shabbos) |
| Woman who wants to continue after lighting | Condition mentally beforehand (תנאי בלב) |
| Forgetting to light once | Lifelong: 3 candles (Rema / Maharil) |
| Chabad girls ≥ 3 years | One candle each |
| Candles too short (extinguish before nightfall) | ברכה לבטלה — use longer candles |
| Household members (other than the woman who lights) | Remain in chol until Barekhu (man) or Mizmor (themselves) |
The 5 practical commandments of Siman רס״ג
- Light at least 2 candles (Zakhor/Shamor) — 3 if previously forgotten, +1 per child in Chabad
- Woman has priority — this is her quintessential mitzvah; the husband fills in if she is absent
- Brachah with covered eyes — light → cover → bless → uncover → Mizmor
- Acceptance through lighting — the woman enters Shabbos; conditioning possible but exceptional
- Traveler / student — specific rules (dedicated room, פרוטה, fulfilled by spouse)
10. Comprehension questions
Check your understanding:
- Why is the woman more bound to this mitzvah (3 reasons)?
- What do the 2 wicks Zakhor/Shamor mean?
- Why does Shabbos candle take priority over Chanukah candle?
- What is the practical minhag to resolve the machlokes on brachah before/after?
- What does the Bahag say about kabbalas Shabbos through lighting?
- How can a woman condition not to accept?
- Who must light in a yeshivah away from the parental home?
- What must a traveler in a hotel without a dedicated room do?
- What happens in case of a cloudy-day error for the community?
- How does siman 263 fit with siman 261 (timing) and 262 (kavod)?
To delve deeper into this siman:
📖Join the chavrusa
- 📚 Level 2 — Lamdan: sugya Shabbos 23b–25b, חקירה on the status of the mitzvah (drabbanan or drabbanan-d'oraysa), שיטת בעל הלכות גדולות on acceptance, מחלוקת on the brachah order
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis: axiom, mnemonic, decision tree
- 📜 Level 4 — Daat HaRav: the shitah of the Alter Rebbe on the 25 se'ifim and 8 entries of Kuntress Acharon