Sabbath Candles – Signs of the Faith

It is Friday evening. Night falls, and the working week is completed. Eighteen minutes before Shabbat begins, Jewish girls and women light the lights of the Shabbat.

Lighting the candles is the first mitzvah (religious duty) of the Sabbath, even before kiddush is made. Generally, at least two candles are lit. They refer to the Sabbath commandment in the two versions of the Ten Commandments.