Yom kippur candle lighting

On Yom Kippur eve, we light several candles for different purposes as will be detailed below:

Lighting candles for Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is a holy day, and it’s a mitzvah to light a candle in its honor, as established by the wise men of old, to light a candle before every Sabbath and holy day for the purpose of having peace in the household, {meaning: so there can be light in the home and so its residents do not meet any obstacles (wood and stone in the words of Chazal)}

Two blessings are said for lighting the candle:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אַדֹנָ-י אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יום

English Translation: “Blessed are You, Adonoy, our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of the Day of Atonement.“

Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir shel yom hakippurim.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

English Translation: “Blessed are You, Adonoy, our God, King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive and sustained us, and brought us to this season”

Transliteration: Baruch Atah Adonay E-loi-hei-nu Me-lech ha-o-lam she-he-chee-ya-nu v’ki-yi-ma-nu vi-hi-gi-ya-nu liz-man ha-zeh.

Who lights the candles from the holy day?

The mitzvah of lighting candles on the Sabbath and holy days is the duty of the wife, and if there is no wife at home, the man can light the candles too.

The Rebbe emphasized the importance of young girls also taking part in lighting candles for the Sabbath and holy day.

It is a custom for pious women to give to charity before lighting the candles.

The candle of life

It is a mitzvah to light many candles at the synagogue where the prayers take place, to honor the day, and it is good to use thick wicks so that there’s lots of light.

In addition, it is customary for every married man to light a candle at the synagogue called “the candle of life”.

Yahrzeit candle

It is a mitzvah to light a Yahrzeit candle on Yom Kippur eve for the ascension of the souls of loved ones who passed away.

According to Judaism, there is great benefit to the soul by lighting the candle, and two important purposes were stated in the holy books:

• Atonement for the soul
• Pleasure and comfort for the soul.

If a candle goes out on Yom Kippur

If someone’s candle goes out on Yom Kippur, it is a bad sign, and it should be re-lit after Yom Kippur ends, and allowed to burn to completion.

****

We remind about the custom of Kapparot, which can be done online via this website.