Teaching Team
Finally Saw the Light
With all the festivals this fall, those of you who traditionally light the Shabbat and Yom Tov [holiday] candles will be doing so many times over the next few weeks. I thought it might be fun to talk a little bit about the history of this tradition. Contrary to some messianic folklore, this custom did not arise out of paganism or imitation of its practices. Rather it is based off the practicality of fulfilling a Biblical commandment.
You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day. (Exodus 35:3)
In order to observe the commandment of not lighting a fire on Shabbat and at the same time still experiencing light on Friday night, it was necessary to light lamps before it got dark or before sundown. Therefore, what arose originally out of necessity became a custom and a wonderful way to mark the beginning of the Shabbat and Holidays.
In the Mishnah (200CE) we find a debate as to what type of oil was permissible to use to light the Shabbat lamps.
Wherewith may we kindle the Shabbat lights, and wherewith may we not kindle them… (m.Shabbat 2:1)
The Mishnah goes on to list various oils that may be used and various oils that my not. This is the earliest reference to this custom and the fact that the argument is not whether or not this should be done, but rather the argument is about how to do it, points to the great antiquity of this tradition. It was already well established by the time the Mishnah was written down.
Archeologists have even found lamps from around the time of the Second Temple period with an extra large reservoir for oil. This was so that once the lamps were lit before Shabbat they would burn an extra long time without needing to add more oil. Traditionally the commandment of not kindling a fire on Shabbat was also interpreted as not adding fuel to an existing fire either.
All in all, this has developed into a special tradition that makes entering into a sacred time all the more special. It always brings joy to our family’s house when my wife and daughters usher in the Shabbat and festivals by lighting candles. In our household it means the week is over and it’s time to focus on HaShem.
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Visitor Feedback:
Toby,
Thank you for adding a touch of depth to this practice.
-Rob
Rob | September 17, 2007 3:44 PM
Shalom in Yeshua's precious & mighty Name! Could you ans-
wer a question for me: Is Moses' father's name "AMRAM"?
There is a song in entitled: EYN ADIR (None So Mighty)which is Sephardic and sung especially at Simchat Torah. The text
is this: "None so mighty as our Lord, blest over all is
Amram's son. None there is greater than the Torah and high
over all is Israel. Hear His Voice! Jehovah speaks. He will
bless all Israel. (2) Power over all has our Lord, pious
is Moses, Amram's son. All worthiness in the Torah found,
all wisdom is there in Israel.(3)Purer that pure is our
Lord, Never a man like Amram's son. Greater than all is the
blessed Torah, learning is found in Israel." Aren't those
wonderful words?! Please let me know. Todah Rabah! Your
work is wonderful! A big. BIG blessing!!! L'Shana tova!
Brachot! Kathleen
**Toby's Response: This is a beautiful song. Amram is Moses' Father. I have never heard of this song before.
KATHLEEN BOSL | September 18, 2007 7:42 PM