Candle Lighting Times Fort Lauderdale (2024)

FAQs

What time should candles be lit? ›

When thinking of using candles, remember they are a light source, so they should be used when light is needed. It is appropriate to light candles after dusk. An exception would be if it is a rainy or overcast day, and then they may be lit a little earlier in the afternoon.

While many people light just two candles, some families light an additional candle for each member of the household. For example, if a woman is married and has two children, she will light five candles: two to fulfill the mitzvah, one for her spouse and one for each child.

You may not light after sunset (or after whatever time the entire community starts Shabbat if they start Shabbat before sunset). NOTE: If a woman lights candles after sunset, she not only violates Shabbat but she must light one extra candle on every subsequent Shabbat for the rest of her life.

Others explain that the custom of lighting 18 minutes before sunset is in deference to the Sefer Yere'im (authored by Rabbi Eliezer of Metz, 12th century), which holds that Shabbat itself actually begins “the time it takes to walk ¾ of a mil” before sunset.

Plus, your candle will start to smoke and release soot. Avoid this by always following the manufacturer's instructions. In general, it is recommended that candles do not burn for longer than four hours and cool for at least two hours before relighting.

So, how long can a candle burn? A good rule of thumb is to limit each candle to 2 hours of burn time, but absolutely no more than 4 hours at a time. If a candle isn't manually extinguished, it can stay lit for a long time—and burning down to the bottom of the candle wick can create potential fire hazards.

Upon arising, we recommend that you light a candle immediately. It helps bring a sense of clarity and focus that will benefit you throughout the day. We tend to be groggy and possibly irritable when we wake up, so lighting a candle is a great idea after you wake up.

This is why, when a woman misses lighting, from that Shabbat on she adds another candle when she lights. It is a reminder to her of the powerful lesson she learned. But it is not a punishment. It is not meant to make you feel terrible, but to show you what you are capable of.

The Shabbat candles should be lit before sunset, but no more than 1¼ hours1 before sunset (also known as plag haminchah). 2 It's never wise to procrastinate until the last moment, so it is customary to light the candles no later than eighteen minutes before sunset.

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 263:4) writes that one may light candles and accept Shabbos starting at plag hamincha, which is one and a quarter sha'os zmaniyos (halachic hours) before nighttime.

Why cover eyes when lighting Shabbat candles? ›

This is because once the blessing is recited Shabbat has been ushered in, and lighting the candle would be forbidden. For this reason, we cover our eyes immediately after lighting to recite the blessing. Thus, our first enjoyment of the Shabbat light — and the fulfillment of the mitzvah — occurs after the blessing.

Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law. Candle-lighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household, but every Jew is obligated to either light or ensure that candles are lit on their behalf.

According to halakha (Jewish religious law), Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before the sun sets on Friday evening until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night, or an hour after sundown. Shabbat is ushered in by lighting candles and reciting blessings over wine and bread.

Many shuls have the custom to wait 40-42 minutes after sunset to end Shabbat. Rav Moshe Feinstein held that Shabbat ends at a maximum of 50 minutes after sunset as by then, the stars that will usually appear in the night sky are out by then.

A candle symbolizes a person: the wax is the physical body, the wick is the mind, and the flame is the spirit. Psychotherapists recommend lighting scented candles in the house every evening to relieve stress and gain inner peace.

Never burn a candle for more than four hours. Never leave a candle unattended, and don't burn it if you may fall asleep. Instead of blowing a candle out or using a snuffer, use a wick dipper to gently submerge the wick in the wax pool. This method doesn't generate any smoke or wax splatter.

Never use a candle as a night light or while you may fall asleep. Be very careful if using candles during a power outage.