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Election 2026

The results of the 27 October vote

The Shabbat candle lighting blessing

One blessing, said on Friday before sunset. The Ashkenaz, Sefard and Edot HaMizrach editions compared for this page all have the same words.

The text of the prayer

The English under each line is Israel.com's own plain-English meaning, not a printed translation.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת:

Blessed are You, God, our God, King of the universe, who made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candle.

Sources read on 2 November 2026

When and how this prayer is said

  • Customarily said on Friday before sunset, when the Shabbat candles are lit.
  • 14 words, about 1 minute to read

More prayers and texts

Prayers by the time they are said·All 150 psalms and today's reading

Questions about this prayer

When are the Shabbat candles lit?

Before sunset on Friday. The Shabbat times page of each city has the candle lighting time.

Who lights the Shabbat candles?

Customarily the woman of the household. A man who lives alone lights them for himself.

Is the blessing the same in every tradition?

In the editions compared for this page, yes: Ashkenaz, Sefard and Edot HaMizrach have the same words, so the page shows one text, compared word by word with an edition of each wording.

How long does Shabbat candle lighting take?

About 1 minute at a steady pace, 14 words.