Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 251:2-252:5

Hook

The flicker of Shabbat candles, a sacred flame passed through generations, warms not just the room but the very soul of the Sephardi home, ushering in peace and holiness with whispered prayers and ancient melodies.

Context

Place

Across the sun-drenched lands of North Africa, the Middle East, the Ottoman Empire, and the Iberian diaspora, vibrant Sephardi and Mizrahi communities fostered unique expressions of Jewish life.

Era

From the post-Golden Age of Spain, through centuries of exile and settlement, these traditions flourished, adapting yet preserving their distinctive character.

Community

A rich tapestry of communities, including Moroccan, Syrian, Iraqi, Yemenite, and Ladino-speaking Jews, each contributing their unique threads to the fabric of Shabbat observance.

Text Snapshot

The Arukh HaShulchan, a monumental halachic work, meticulously details the laws surrounding Shabbat preparation, emphasizing the mitzvah of kindling lights. It underscores the profound purpose of Shabbat candles: "to bring peace to the home" (Shalom Bayit) and to "honor Shabbat" (Kevod Shabbat), ensuring their timely lighting before sunset. While an Ashkenazi compilation, its discussion of candle lighting serves as a universal foundation for understanding this pivotal moment in welcoming Shabbat.

Minhag/Melody

In many Sephardi homes, particularly among Moroccan Jews, a beautiful minhag involves the women, after lighting the Shabbat candles, circling them seven times while reciting personal prayers (tefillot) for their family’s health, prosperity, and spiritual well-being. This intimate moment transforms the physical light into a conduit for fervent devotion.

Contrast

A notable difference in candle lighting minhag: while many Ashkenazi women light, cover their eyes, and then recite the blessing, numerous Sephardi communities, striving to avoid an interruption (hefsek) between the blessing and the performance of the mitzvah, recite the blessing before lighting the candles, or light and then say the blessing without covering their eyes.

Home Practice

Before lighting your Shabbat candles this week, take a moment to reflect on your intentions. As you ignite the wicks, consciously welcome the peace and holiness of Shabbat, perhaps offering a silent prayer for your loved ones, connecting to this timeless tradition.

Takeaway

The act of lighting Shabbat candles, universal yet deeply personal, reveals the beautiful diversity within Jewish practice. Sephardi and Mizrahi traditions infuse this mitzvah with layers of specific prayers, melodies, and movements, transforming a halachic obligation into a profound, heartfelt welcome to Shabbat's sacred embrace.