#49: The Process for Lighting Shabbat Candles (Part 1)
- The Rema (263:5) writes that the Ashkenazic custom is to first light the Shabbat candles and then to recite the berachah on candle lighting. Although we usually recite a berachah on a mitzvah before performing it, this case is different because Ashkenazim normally accept Shabbat after reciting the berachah, so the candles must be lit first.
- The Rema also writes that it is customary for women to cover their eyes while reciting the berachah so that the candles are only seen afterwards. The reason is that since benefiting from the candles is also considered part of the mitzvah, we can preserve an element of the normal rule of reciting the berachah before performing the mitzvah in this manner.
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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.
