We traditionally light two candles before the start of the Shabbat or a Jewish holiday to mark the holiness of the occasion.

Light the candles.

Upon lighting the candles, we recite:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל [שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל] יוֹם טוֹב

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam, Asher Kid'shanu B'mitzvotav V'tzivanu L'hadlik Ner Shel (Shabbat v'shel) Yom Tov.

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with the commandments and commands us to kindle the lights of (Shabbat and of) the festival day.

Candle lighting separates holidays from non-holidays and Shabbat from the rest of the week; it bridges the gap between the ordinary and the sacred. We think about the people, things, and events that lit our personal "candles" and helped us transition between each part of our lives.


haggadah Section: Introduction