#50: The Process for Lighting Shabbat Candles (Part 2)

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. Following the lighting of the candles, many women wave their hands before covering their eyes and reciting the berachah. Although this custom is not mentioned in the classic halachic sources, it may have evolved as an act that symbolizes the preparation for deriving benefit from the candles. It is also said to be a motion which represents accepting the Shabbat queen. For further discussion, see R. Ephraim Greenblatt in Rivevot Ephraim (1:183, 2:115:64) and https://outorah.org/p/35448.
  2. R. Ovadia Yosef says that the proper Sephardic practice is to recite the berachah first and then light the candles (Yabia Omer 2:16). However, some Sephardic poskim, such as Ben Ish Chai (2nd yr, Noach #8) and R. Mordechai Eliyahu, nevertheless adopt the approach of the Rema as to the proper order of lighting candles.

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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.