Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 263:23-264:2

Hook

The gentle flicker of Shabbat candles, a timeless beacon warming Sephardi homes across generations and lands.

Context

Place

From the sun-drenched courtyards of Marrakech to the bustling alleys of Aleppo, and into the modern global diaspora.

Era

Rooted in ancient Talmudic discussions and codified by the Rambam in the 12th century, evolving through the Acharonim like the Arukh HaShulchan in the 19th-20th centuries.

Community

A universal Jewish practice, cherished deeply within Sephardic and Mizrahi communities as a cornerstone of Friday evening.

Text Snapshot

The Arukh HaShulchan emphasizes the Rambam's view: lighting Shabbat candles is a profound obligation for all, male and female, even for the most impoverished. This light is not a mere option but essential for "Shabbat Pleasure" (Oneg Shabbos) or "Honoring Shabbat" (Kavod Shabbos), as Rashi explains. A blessing is recited before kindling, marking it as a unique Rabbinic ordinance.

Minhag/Melody

The Kabbalistic Glow

Many Sephardi communities have the beautiful custom of adding an additional candle for each child, or for each year of marriage, deepening the personal connection to the mitzvah and amplifying the light and blessing in the home. This practice speaks to the profound value placed on light and spiritual abundance.

Contrast

Blessing Order

A notable difference lies in the order of blessing and lighting. While Ashkenazi tradition often dictates reciting the blessing before lighting, many Sephardi communities, following the Shulchan Aruch and Kabbalistic custom, light the candles first, then cover their eyes and recite the blessing, thus bringing in Shabbat with the light already present.

Home Practice

Kavvanah in the Flame

As you light your Shabbat candles, take a moment to pause. Reflect on the profound reasons given by Rambam and Rashi—whether for "pleasure" or "honor." Let this intention (kavvanah) transform the physical light into a spiritual glow, connecting you to generations of Jews who have done the same.

Takeaway

The Shabbat candle, in its simple glow, embodies the enduring beauty and depth of Sephardi/Mizrahi tradition—a mitzvah uniting us across time and space, illuminating our homes and souls with the light of Torah.