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Why Do I Light Shabbat Candles

Why Do I Light Shabbat Candles

Last updated on: June 22, 2023 at 10:17 am by Susan P Lax

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Why Do I Light Shabbat Candles 2023-06-22T10:17:54-04:00 Susan P Lax

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why do I light Shabbat candles every Friday night?

I have always found a candle to be quite spiritual, or even magical.

In Judaism, almost every holiday begins the night before with the lighting of a candle.

On each holiday eve, and on Chanukah for eight nights, there is an opportunity to experience the preciousness of a newly lit flame.

But my favorite candle lighting is the one I do every Friday night, Shabbat candles.

I didn’t grow up in a Jewish observant home, rather in a secular environment.

My Kibbutz society believed in the cultural and land aspects of Judaism.

So why is it that I light Shabbat Candles every Friday night?

Shabbat candle lighting offered me a new breath, a silent but inspirational sigh to the completion of a week and the invitation to rest.

My mother always lit two Shabbat candles every Friday night.

I can’t recall her saying a blessing as she lit them, perhaps it was just the moving to a paused moment that intrigued me.

In the Kibbutz children’s houses every Friday before the children were to go home Shabbat Candles were lit.

There was a sweet moment or two of silence even in the baby houses.

This moving from noise to quiet, from an active mind to a calm one, from rush to pause,

made an important and meaningful imprint on my soul.

One that would continue to evolve with time, taking on new meanings both for my spirit and my family.

Shabbat candle lighting offered me a new breath, a silent but inspirational sigh to the completion of a week and the invitation to rest.

Shabbat candles have awakened my heart, my gratitude and the gifts of spiritual self-awareness.

Over the years, there is so much more that those few moments of Shabbat Candle lighting have taught me.

As I stand to light each candle, I have learned to be in my present moment with myself and those surrounding me.

Before my children all moved on to their homes, the warmth of my three daughters lighting the candles with me allowed us to pause from parenting and whatever stage of childhood, or adolescent they were in and to just be in the moment of togetherness.

Now, that my partner in life and love and I find ourselves many Friday nights lighting our Shabbat candles by ourselves, we pause from our week’s busyness to our sacred couple ship.

On occasion I have been by myself on Shabbat evening, then as well, my moments lighting the Shabbat candles have awakened my heart, my gratitude and the gifts of spiritual self-awareness.

Shabbat Candle

Photo by -Susan P. Lax-Shabbat Candles

Traditions are wonderful; however, I find the beauty to adapt them to your heart’s meaning is a great source to nurture your soul.

I continue to add my own silent prayers and blessings while I light Shabbat candles.

It has become a safe place, a safe moment to free my soul from worries, send out the energy of healing and gratitude.

Although I cover my eyes as tradition has taught me after I light the candles, I do not to hide from the flame rather the opposite.

I keep the glow, I have created alive in my soul, and am one with gratitude for the gifts of love, liveliness and all I am blessed with.

Learn about my weekly newsletter Morning Inspiration and my book

A Heart’s Landscape An Invitation to the Garden of Moments here

And about my The Heart to Heart Songbook performance.

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