Shabbat Candles

How does one light Shabbat candles?

The mitzvah of shabbat candles is to illuminate the room in which one spends shabbat, facilitating a more pleasant experience. This mitzvah applies to men and women alike.

The lighting of the candles should be done on Friday afternoon, well before Shabbat starts.

When lighting the candles, the following blessing is recited:

áøåê àúä ä' à-ìäéðå îìê äòåìí, àùø ÷ãùðå áîöååúéå åöååðå ìäãìé÷ ðø ùì ùáú.

Baruch Ata Adonai Elohenu Melech Haolam Asher Kideshanu

Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Shabbat.

Blessed are you God our Lord King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the candle of Shabbat.

Women recite the blessing after lighting the candles, men before. If a woman plans to continue doing melacha after lighting the candles, she should stipulate that prior to lighting.

Must one light a flame, or can an electric light be used as the shabbat “candle”?

Most halachic authorities consider incandescent electric lights to be valid as shabbat “candles”. One may recite the blessing “lehadlik ner shel shabbat” and turn on such a light.

In R. Frazer’s opinion, electric lamps are actually the preferable means to light at Brandeis. One does not fulfill the mitzvah of shabbat candles unless they benefit from their light on shabbat in some way, and wax candles often go out before students arrive home from services and dinner. Electric lamps are also much safer than candles. Residence Life requires that candles be lit in a pan of water, and this is halachically problematic according to many opinions, another reason to prefer using an electric light.

Flourescent lights (the long white tubes that don’t get hot when they are on) are not valid as shabbat “candles”, but incandescent and halogen lights are. Many students prefer to use a small electric night-light, as it does not disrupt sleeping. One may also set a timer so that the light will go out when it is time to sleep.

What are the safety guidelines for lighting candles in Brandeis residence halls?

You need to fill out a safety form, available in Hillel Lounge, before lighting candles. That form includes the following safety guidelines:

1. The candlesticks may not exceed four inches in height and must be placed in a pan filled with ½ inch of water. The pan must be large enough to catch the candles if they fall. Preferably, the candlesticks should be made of metal.
2. The candlesticks must be placed on a table or desk completely cleared of other material, away from shelves and open windows. The candles should be at least 36 inches away in all directions from any hanging clothing, papers, books, wood shelves, wall hangings, posters, or curtains.

As noted in the previous question, R. Frazer recommends avoiding this issue entirely by using electric lights.

Can one roommate light candles on behalf of the others?

Yes, if they all live in a single room. If each student has a separate room in a suite, it is preferable for each student to light in his/her personal room, if possible.

Where can I get Shabbat candles?

What are the laws of carrying? What is the Eruv?

Basically, on shabbat one may not carry any object from a private area to a public area. One may also not carry an item more than 4 amot (about 6 feet) in a public area. The Eruv defines everything that is enclosed within it as a single private area, so one may carry freely within the Eruv.

(There are is separate category of laws called Muktze, which specifies items that may not be moved on shabbat at all. The Eruv can’t help you there.)

What are the Brandeis Eruv's Boundaries?

· Everything within the Peripheral Road is within the eruv.
· Every quad except for Grad is within the eruv.
· X-lot is outside of the eruv.
· T-lot, Spingold, Slosberg, The Rose Art Museum and Sachar are all within the eruv.
· The athletic field and Gosman are within the eruv.
· On South Street, the eruv extends on both sides, from the edge of the Foster Mods until the start of R-lot (R-lot is within the eruv).

Is there a map of the Eruv?

Can I walk past an automatic door, such as in The Village?

Walking past an automatic door and inadvertently activating it on Shabbat is permissible. But deliberately activating the door on Shabbat is not allowed. Therefore, if one is aware of the door, it is better to walk around it.

If there is no other way to get where a person needs to go, he may walk past the door, even if it will automatically open, because even though he knows the door will open, he derives no benefit from it being opened. This pertains only to walking past the door, not walking through it. One may not walk through the automatic doors, as in this case the opening of the door is deliberate and for one’s benefit.

Marked Shabbat Doors in the Village allow entry and exit without automation and without a swipe card.

How can I enter/exit The Shapiro Student center - aren't all the doors are motorized?

One may not open the motorized doors on Shabbat. However, if someone else has opened those doors, one may walk through them. One may not instruct others to open those doors on Shabbat.

Am I allowed to give the cashier my name, if she will check it off on Shabbat?

Yes, but you should not directly instruct her to write it or check it off.

There are no Kiddush cups, can I make kiddush using a disposable cup?

It is better to make kiddush with a permanent cup. In R. Frazer’s opinion, the strong clear plastic disposable cups can be considered like a permanent cup, and are fit for use at kiddush when no “official” kiddush cup is available.

When only flimsy paper cups are available, one may rely on the opinion of the Tzitz Eliezer, who permits using any disposable cup for kiddush.

This is also applies to the use of disposable cups for netilat yadayim.

There is no grape juice left, what can I use instead?

Friday night: One can recite kiddush over bread. First wash netilat yadayim, then place your hands on the bread and recite kiddush, substituting “hamotzi lechem min haaretz” for “borei pri hagafen”, and eat the bread.

Shabbat day: One can recite kiddush over another “important” beverage, such as beer, substituting “shehakol nihye bidvaro” for “borei pri hagafen”. Some halachic authorities maintain that Coke is valid for this purpose, and this is what should be used in Sherman, where alcoholic drinks are not served. Kiddush cannot be said over bread during the day.

There is no Challah left, what can I use instead?

Am I allowed to benefit from melacha done by others on shabbat?

Where on campus can I get kosher food besides Sherman?

Some packaged kosher food is available in the Usdan dining hall and the C-Store. The Colombo frozen yogurt dispensed on campus is also kosher, as is all Colombo frozen yogurt dispensed anywhere.

Is Java City kosher?

Java City is not under kosher supervision, but it does carry some packaged kosher products. Check labels for kosher symbols. Please note that equipment used for preparation of hot drinks is used for non-kosher items.

How do I set up a kosher kitchen in my room?

What kind of rooms get a mezuza?

Any room about 6x6' or more, where Jews live, except for a bathroom/shower.

Where can I order a kosher mezuza online?

I would like to come weekday services, but don't have Tefillin, what can I do?

Can you give me information about Rosh Hashana?