#51: What to Do with the Match After Lighting Candles

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. Ashkenazi poskim disagree as to whether one may extinguish the match directly (Aruch Hashulchan 263:14) or whether one should put it down and let it burn out by itself (Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchatah 43:36, Responsa Be’er Moshe 8:63). The first opinion may hold that Shabbat is accepted only after reciting the berachah, while the second opinion may hold that it is accepted after lighting the candles, before reciting a berachah. Both customs are considered acceptable in practice; see https://outorah.org/p/47508/ for further discussion.
  2. According to Sephardic custom, one may extinguish the match directly after lighting because one does not accept Shabbat until after the entire candle lighting process is complete.

To sign up for the daily halacha via WhatsApp or email, click here.

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.