 There are two mitzvos associated with Shabbos:
Kiddush & Havdalah: Reciting Kiddush (sanctification) Friday night fulfills the mitzvah of verbally remembering the Shabbos day. The sages established that this be done over a cup of wine (or grape juice) and is performed at the beginning of the Shabbos evening meal. The prescribed text of Kiddush can be found in a Hebrew prayer book. Just as we bring in Shabbos with Kiddush, we close the holy day with Havdalah (separation) which is also performed with a cup of wine, in addition to spices and a multi-wick, braided candle.
Lighting the Shabbos Candles: Since Shabbos is a day of both spiritual and physical enjoyment, the Rabbis instituted the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles. This is one of the seven mitzvos instituted by our sages. The reason for this mitzvah is to ensure that we spend the evening of Shabbos in a warm and lighted environment to ensure "oneg Shabbos" (enjoyment of Shabbos) and "shalom bayis" (peace and harmony in the home) and therefore they should be lit in the room where the Shabbos evening meal will be eaten.
Since we are not permitted to kindle lights ON Shabbos, the Rabbis instituted the lighting of candles beforehand. The candles are lit 18 minutes prior to sunset, which is the onset of Shabbos. Though individuals have their own obligation to light Shabbos candles, the time-honored custom is to leave the fulfillment of this mitzvah to the Jewish woman who fulfills her family's obligation, though a single man not living at his parents' home would light his own. Although one candle fulfills the mitzah, the custom is to light at least two candles. Many Jewish mothers have the custom to light one additional candle for each of the children.
One recites the blessing after lighting the candles, since the bracha is recited she has accepted Shabbos and can no longer kindle fire.
  Kiddush & Havdalah: "Remember the Shabbos day to sanctify it." - Exodus 20:8
Lighting the Shabbos Candles: Orach Chayim 261
Kiddush & Havdalah: The Talmud teaches that as the Shabbos drew near, the Sages would don their finest clothing and say to one another "Let us go out to greet the Shabbath queen." A thousand years later, the Kabbalists of Safed embellished the Talmudic custom by actually walking out to the fields to "welcome the incoming Sabbath." The point was that the Jews regarded the Sabbath as a queen that brought majesty to their midst and that it was their privilege to usher her in.
Lighting the Shabbos Candles: For centuries, lighting Shabbos candles has been one of the most significant mitzvos bestowed upon Jewish women. Tradition recounts the miracle of our matriarch, Sarah, whose Shabbos candles burned from Frieday eve through the following Friday eve. This teaches that the spiritual light generated by a woman's Shabbos candles illuminates the home, not only on Shabbos, but throughout the week that follows. The Zohar teaches, "A woman kindling the Shabbos candles with joy in her heart, brings peace on earth, health and happiness to her family, and is blesssed with children who brighten the world with the light of tradition."
 Kiddush & Havdalah: Experience the beauty and sanctity of Shabbos by spending it within a Jewish community. Hospitality is a mitzva from the Torah and a hallmark of every community...
Lighting the Shabbos Candles: We have a teaching that the custom of lighting two candles invokes two of the words used in the Torah regarding the mitzvah of Shabbos: "Shamor" (guard) and "Zachor" (remember). Just as we have the positive mitzvah of remembering Shabbos by lighting candles, making Kiddush and eating festive meals, we also have the mitzvah to guard Shabbos by refraining from forbidden creative work (the 39 categories of melacha) that transgresses the sanctity of the day.
|
Every Saturday
Shabbos/