By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times
For the refuah shleimah of Borcuh Zev Ben Bracha
Shabbos has always been viewed as the symbol or flag of the Jewish nation. Just as patriots look at their flag as more than a mere dyed cloth with fancy designs, so too is Shabbos viewed in the eyes of the Jewish people. It is a sign of our deep belief in G-d’s absolute Oneness – He created the world and all that is in it, He is the One and Only, the source of everything, the One who rewards good and punishes evil. Ain Od Milvado.
This flag must be honored as well. This is the meaning of the Talmudic statement (Shabbos 25b), hadlakas ner b’shabbos chovah – honoring Shabbos through light is an obligation. The Shabbos lights honor the Shabbos, they allow us to enjoy it more, and they contribute to the tranquility of our homes.
But all this brings a question: How many Shabbos candles do we light to bring in the Shabbos? Is it one, two, or the amount of children that you had?
Believe it or not, the Talmud just mentions the obligation to light, but no place in the Gemorah does it mention lighting more than one Shabbos lamp. Indeed, it does not even mention that we light the Shabbos licht with a Bracha. Tosfos cites a Yerushalmi that states that a Bracha is recited, but as yet, no one has found that Yerushalmi. Perhaps the Baalei Tosfos referred to the Midrashim, which do mention a bracha, as the Yerushalmi.
Also, the term “Ner” mentioned in the bracha does not mean candle rather it means lamp – a porcelain container that holds oil and a wick. The term “Ner” is also singular – indicating that the original obligation was just one flame.
TWO LAMPS
We first encounter mention of two lamps in Ashkenaz. The Raavya, Rav Eliezer ben Yoel HaLevi of Bonn (1140–1225) is the first to mention the custom of lighting two lights for Shabbos (Vol. I, Hilchos Shabbos Siman 199). He cites two reasons for lighting two lamps.
The first is that he equates it to Chanukah lights during a period of danger (See Shabbos 21b). If we light one it will not be clear that he is doing it for the use of Shabbos. Hence the need to light a second lamp.
The second reason he provides is to correspond to Zachor and Shamor. The Raavya himself states that according to this second reason one should not add a third lamp .
THIRD REASON
The Kol Bo (Siman 24) cites a third reason from Rabbi Asher of Luniel. Every aspect of Shabbos has a duality associated with it: Shnei Kevasim, Mizmor Shir l’yom haShabbos (mizmor and shir), Lechem Mishna, zachor and shamor. It therefore follows that there should be two Shabbos lamps.
FOURTH REASON
The Agur writes that the Mekuballim hold that it alludes to the marriage between Hashem and Knesses Yisroel.
THE MINHAG TO LIGHT SEVEN CANDLES
The Shla (Meseches Shabbos Chapter Torah Ohr #29) writes that it is proper to light seven lamps corresponding to the seven candles of the Menorah.
THE MINHAG TO LIGHT FOR EVERY KID
Our custom is to add a light for every child that is born. This custom, however, is mentioned only very late by Rabbi Yisrael Chaim Friedman of Rachov, author of the Likutei Maharich. Rav Friedman passed away in 1922. The Maharich was published in Marmorosh, Hungary.
ONCE ONE HAS LIT A NUMBER OF CANDLES
The Pri Magadim writes (263:AA3) nce a woman has taken upon herself to light more candles – she may not lessen them.
AWAY FROM HOME
If a woman is away from home she does not have to light the numer of candles that she usually does. She may light just the two.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
1] As an interesting aside, the reason of the two lamps corresponding to Zachor and Shamor is attributed to a number of different Poskim. Rav Yaakov Ben Yehudah Landau (died 1493), author of the Agur cites the reason of corresponding to Zachor and Shamor as emanating from the Ravya. Rav Aharon Ben Yaakov HaKohain (14th century Posaik from Provence), author of the Orchos Chaim states that this pshat came from the Maharam of Rothenberg (1220-1293). The Tashbatz Rav Shimon ben Tzenach Duran (1361-1444) also attributes it to the Maharam of Rothenberg.
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One Response
An older European Posek (World renowned) explained decades ago that the minhag of lighting an extra candle for each child was a “minhag Tous” (mistaken custom) based on a mistake.
It used to be that most women after childbirth were bedridden for days and would often miss candle lighting thus being required to light an extra candle for each time missed. People then began to believe that a woman is supposed to light an extra candle for each additional child.