Candles have deep symbolic meaning in Judaism and are used on a wide variety of religious occasions.
When Jewish Custom Uses Candles
- Candles are lit prior to every Shabbat in Jewish homes and synagogues before sunset on Friday evening.
- At the end of Shabbat a special braided Havdalah candle is lit.
- During Hanukkah candles are lit in the Hannukiyah each night.
- Candles are lit prior to major Jewish holidays such as Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Sukkot, and Shavuot.
- Memorial candles are lit by Jewish families on the Yahrzeit (anniversary of a death) of close loved ones every year.
- The eternal flame, or Ner Tamid, found in most synagogues above the ark where the Torah scrolls are kept is meant to represent the candle flame of the original Temple's menorah, though most synagogues use electric lamps instead of actual oil lamps today.
The Meaning of Candles in Judaism
Candles have a variety of meanings within Judaism. Candlelight is often thought of as a reminder of God's divine presence. Candles lit during Jewish holidays and on Shabbat serve as reminders that the occasion is holy and distinct from our day-to-day life. The two candles lit on Shabbat also serve as a reminder of the biblical requirements to "remember" (Exodus 20:8) and "keep" (Deuteronomy 5:12) the Sabbath. Candles are also equated with joy in Judaism, drawing upon a passage in the biblical book of Esther that equates light and joy (Esther 8:16).
In Jewish tradition the candle flame is also thought to symbolically represent the human soul and serves as a reminder for the frailty and beauty of life. The connection between candle flames and souls derives originally from the Book of Proverbs (20:27): "The soul of man is the candle of G-d." Like a human soul, flames must breath, change, grow, strive against the darkness and, ultimately, fade away. Thus, the flickering of candlelight helps to remind us of the precious fragility of our life and the lives of our loved ones, life that must be embraced and cherished at all times. Because of this symbolism, Jews light memorial candles on certain holidays and their loved ones' yahrzeits.
