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Shabbat Candlesticks
Those who have witnessed the candle lighting ceremony in Jewish homes on Shabbat or festival eves can attest to the fact that something very special takes place in at that time. The Jewish women and girls in the house usher in the holy day by lighting candles and .reciting quiet prayers. It is a time for introspection and supplications from G-d. Canaan Online Company have a wide variety of Shabbat Candles that add much beauty to this age-old tradition. All of the Shabbat candlesticks are handmade in Israel by well-known artists. Shabbat candles are a perfect gift for a new couple who are building their own home as well as being ideal for a housewarming, as a way of wishing the home-owners that their new home be filled with light and blessings.
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The procedure of lighting Shabbat candles is as follows;
• According to the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, it is proper to place some money in a charity box before lighting the candles.
• The woman of the house (or man if there is no woman of the household) lights the candles.
• From the moment the candles are lit, the woman lighting them has taken Shabbat upon herself.
• Due to this fact, the one lighting may not extinguish the match after lighting as this is an activity that is forbidden on Shabbat. Therefore, one must drop it in a safe place and allow it to go out- for example on a metal tray upon which the candles stand or in a ceramic bowl that was set out for this purpose.
• Additionally, after lighting the candles one may not move the match box or charity box from the table. Someone else who has not yet taken Shabbat upon themselves, such as her husband, can remove the box or she should just make sure in advance that the box is somewhere where it can remain over Shabbat.
• According to Ner Shabbat, Chapter 13, after lighting the Shabbat candles there are those who stretch their hands out towards the candles and move them inwards in a circular motion, as a way of ushering in the Shabbat. This motion is repeated three times. After the third time the woman covers her eyes and recites the special blessing over the candles,
"Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam Asher Kideshanu Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Shabbat Kodesh."
This translates to mean,
"Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat."
• After reciting the blessing, the woman keeps her eyes covered and says private prayers as this is considered a very auspicious time for doing so. It is customary to beseech G-d at this time for children who will grow in Torah study, spreading G-d's light in the world and that G-d light up the world with the light of redemption.
• After lighting candles it is traditional for the woman to uncover her eyes and wish those present "Shabbat Shalom," a peaceful day of rest.
• It is relayed in the mystical book of the Zohar that is especially important to light the Shabbat candles with joy and filled with positive feelings.
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