By Rabbi Moshe Walter
There is a special mitzvah to light Shabbos candles to bring kavod (honor) and oneg (enjoyment) to Shabbos and for the sake of shalom bayis (prevent people from getting hurt in the dark.) The mitzvah to light Shabbos candles is unique in that it is both a mitzvah for an individual person to fulfil as well as a mitzvah requirement upon the home as a whole. As such for a single person there are often instances and situations where the question of where and when to light arise. We hope the following questions and answers will be helpful to you.
We are a group of single women who live in the same apartment. Do we need to light Shabbos candles or can we rely on our mother’s lighting? Should all of us light or can one of us light for everyone?
One of the women in the apartment should light the Shabbos candles on behalf of all the women, and they thereby all fulfil the mitzvah of Shabbos candles. The women cannot rely on their mother’s lighting as they are adults and as such are not considered to be dependent upon their family to fulfil this obligation for them (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 263:6, Aruch HaShulchan 5, Mishnah Berurah 263: 28-30)
I am a single man whose children stay with me every second Shabbos. Am I obligated to light Shabbos candles? What about when my 14-year-old daughter is at my home – should she light on those weeks?
Every home must have Shabbos candles lit. The mitzva of lighting Shabbos candles ordinarily falls on the woman of the home, however in this circumstance it becomes the mitzvah of the man to ensure that Shabbos candles are lit. Even when a daughter is at home with a father, the father should light the candles as he is the baal habayis, master of the house. (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 263: 2-3. Rav Moshe Feinstein cited in The Radiance of Shabbos chapter 2 footnote 8. However, there are halachic authorities who posit that in this circumstance the daughter should light the Shabbos candles and not the father. See Rav Nissin Karelitz in Chut Shani 4:83-8 who discusses this question at greater length.)
I am invited out for a Friday night meal and I do not feel comfortable lighting at my home and then leaving. What am I allowed to do?
Your concern is understandable and many people share this concern. First of all, if one is lighting candles and leaving the home, one should be careful to ensure that proper caution has been taken when leaving the candles lit. Two classical options exist in this case. One may light at home if one benefits from the candles before leaving for the Shabbos meal or when returning from the Shabbos meal. Additionally, before leaving the home, turn on the electricity for the purpose of having light in the home for Shabbos which is also a component of the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles. (Rav Moshe Feinstein cited in Responsa Teshuvos V’hanhagos 2:154 and The Radiance of Shabbos chapter 2 footnote 37.) A second and equally valid option is to light the Shabbos candles at the home where you will be eating as you will benefit from the candlelight at the home where you will be eating the Shabbos meal, and as above, turn on the electric lights before Shabbos, for the purpose of having light in the home for Shabbos when returning home from the Shabbos meal.
I am invited out for a Friday night meal, but my hosts live quite a walk away. Am I able to light and then drive to my host? Light and then drive to minchah?
Yes, you may do so by mentally or verbally stipulating that despite your lighting the Shabbos candles, you are not accepting Shabbos until you say so upon arriving at your destination. This condition should only be executed when necessary, and lighting on condition to drive to be part of a Shabbos meal or lighting on condition to drive to daven minchah is considered halachically necessary, so this condition can and should be incorporated in this context. This is true for both a man and a woman. (Rema Orach Chaim 263:10 and Mishnah Berurah 263: 44 and 42)
May one recite a berachah on electric lights if it is not possible to light Shabbos candles with oil or candles?
If this is the only option, one should certainly turn on the electric lights, or a special electric candelabra for the sake of the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles as doing so fulfills the aforementioned requirements of the mitzvah of Shabbos candles, as the electric lights bring Kavod Shabbos, Oneg Shabbos, and Shalom Bayis.
However, if a berachah can be made on electric lights is a significant dispute between great halachic authorities. While many halachic authorities do permit one to make a berachah on electric lights, the opinion of Rav Moshe Feinstein was that one may not recite a berchah on electric lights. This is true for both incandescent and fluorescent lights. (Radiance of Shabbos chapter 5:3. See Sefer Orchos Shabbos volume 4 25:33 for an extensive summary of the issues and opinions on the topic.) It is difficult to issue an absolute and decisive yes or no answer to this question. I would recommend discussing this question with your Rav.
Rabbi Moshe Walter is the rabbi of Woodside Synagogue Ahavas Torah in Silver Spring, Maryland, the executive director of the Vaad HaRabanim of Greater Washington.
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