#42: Machshavah
The Zohar (Bereishit 48b) relates some of the unique elements of lighting candles for Shabbat in the following excerpt.
“A woman should light the Shabbat candles with a joyful heart and good will, as it is a supreme honor for her. It is a great merit for herself to merit holy children who will be shining with Torah and fear of G‑d, who will bring peace to the world. By lighting the candles, she also gives her husband long life. For this reason, she should be very careful with this lighting.”
We can learn from here that when lighting candles, one should keep in mind not only the importance of the occasion for oneself, but also the importance of having others in the family in mind and how it can impact upon them as well. May we all merit that our Shabbat candles facilitate the achievement of great spiritual heights among everyone in our family.
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.