Claire Dawson
Lighting Shabbos candles is considered an important ritual in the Jewish faith, and the obligation to do so falls on every member of a household. However, in certain situations, such as in hospitals, the use of traditional candles may be restricted due to safety concerns. In such cases, the question arises whether alternative forms of lighting can be used to fulfill the religious obligation. This has been a topic of debate among religious authorities, with some recommending the use of electric lights or flashlights as a substitute for candles in hospitals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lighting Shabbos Candles in Hospitals | If a patient is in the hospital on Shabbos, they are still obligated to light Shabbos candles. However, as hospitals forbid open flames, one should light an electric light, such as an incandescent lamp or flashlight, without reciting a blessing. |
| Electric Lights | The use of electric lights to fulfill the mitzvah of Shabbos candles is debated. While some Poskim agree that it fulfills the obligation, others believe it is preferable to use traditional candles or oil-based lights. |
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What You'll Learn
- If a woman gives birth on Shabbos, she must still light candles in hospital
- Hospitals forbid open flames, so electric lights are used instead
- Some say no blessing should be recited when using electric lights
- The lights should be turned off and on for the sake of the mitzvah
- A battery-operated light is recommended over a regular electric lamp
If a woman gives birth on Shabbos, she must still light candles in hospital
The obligation to light Shabbos candles applies to all members of a household, though the responsibility for the act of lighting usually falls to the wife or another woman of the house. If a woman is in hospital after giving birth, she is still required to light Shabbos candles. However, as hospitals forbid the lighting of candles, she should light an electric light in her room.
The sages have established that candle lighting is the woman's responsibility, though the obligation to light Shabbos candles rests equally on every member of the household. When there is no woman in the house, the obligation falls upon the man. If a man is single and living alone, or if his wife is out of the house, he should light the candles with a bracha.
In the case of a woman in hospital, her husband should light Shabbos candles at home with a bracha. She is still required to light a light at the hospital, but as open flames are forbidden, she should use an electric light. According to some poskim, including Harav Moshe Feinstein, one may not recite a bracha when using an electric light, so she should light them without saying a prayer.
In the past, it was customary for a woman who had just given birth not to light candles on the first Friday night after giving birth. However, this is no longer the custom, and women who have just given birth are still required to light Shabbos candles, even if they are in hospital.
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Hospitals forbid open flames, so electric lights are used instead
When electricity became commonplace, the Poskim debated whether the mitzvah of kindling Shabbos lights could be fulfilled by turning on electric lights. The majority agreed that one could indeed fulfill this obligation with electrical lighting, and some even argued that it was preferable to use electricity. However, most women continue to light traditional wax or oil-based candles.
In hospitals, patients and visitors are advised to use electric lights to fulfill the mitzvah of Shabbos candles. It is recommended to use a battery-operated light, such as an incandescent lamp or flashlight, rather than a regular electric lamp. Some sources suggest turning the electric lights off and on again for the sake of the mitzvah, while others recommend lighting them without reciting a brocho.
In situations where the use of candles would be difficult or dangerous, such as in a hospital, the Poskim agree that one should rely on electric lights for Shabbos candles. This is also the case in dormitories and hotels, where it is unsafe to leave candles burning unattended. While some maintain that a blessing should be recited over the electric lights, others argue that it should be omitted. Ultimately, one should follow the directives of their rabbi or rav.
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Some say no blessing should be recited when using electric lights
The obligation to light Shabbos candles applies to all members of a household, although traditionally, the woman of the house lights the candles. However, if a man is living alone, or his wife is out of the house, then he should light the candles.
In the case of a woman being in hospital, she is still required to light Shabbos candles. However, as hospitals forbid the lighting of candles, she should light an electric light or flashlight instead.
There is some debate as to whether a blessing should be recited when using electric lights. Some sources state that it is permissible to use electricity for Shabbos candles and that a blessing may be recited. However, others argue that while it is permissible to use electricity, no blessing should be recited. This is based on the idea that turning on an electric light on Shabbat violates the biblical prohibition of lighting a flame, or "igniting".
According to some rabbis, one can use incandescent light bulbs in a "pressing situation", such as a fire hazard or if one does not have candles. In these cases, a blessing may be recited. However, the consensus is that one should light candles whenever possible, and only resort to lighting a bulb if candles cannot be lit due to a hazard or prohibition.
It is important to note that the use of electricity on Shabbat is a complex issue that has been widely discussed and debated by halachic authorities.
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The lights should be turned off and on for the sake of the mitzvah
Lighting Shabbos candles is a mitzvah, a commandment, and is traditionally the obligation of the woman of the household. However, the obligation to light Shabbos candles rests equally on every member of the household. In the case of a woman in the hospital, she is still required to light the Shabbos candles, but since hospital regulations forbid the lighting of candles, she should light an electric light or flashlight in her room.
The question of whether the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles can be fulfilled by turning on electric lights has been a topic of debate since electricity became commonplace. Some Poskim maintain that the blessing "lehadlik ner shel Shabbos" is recited even when the mitzvah is performed using electric lights. However, others argue that in such cases, the blessing should be omitted. There is no clear-cut custom, and one should follow the directive of one's Posek.
In situations where using candles would be difficult or dangerous, such as in a hospital, the Poskim agree that one should rely on electric lights for Shabbos. The lights should be turned off and then turned on again for the sake of the mitzvah. This is also applicable in cases where there are no candles available, or when it is unsafe to leave candles burning, such as in dormitories or hotel rooms. In these cases, a small light should be turned off and on in honour of Shabbos before it starts, but a blessing is usually not recited since the blessing is reserved for the candles lit in the main dining room.
The appropriate procedure, as outlined by some sources, is as follows: When the wife is ready to light candles in the dining room, all the electrical lights in the rooms that will be used on Friday night should be shut off. Those lights should then be turned on by the husband, wife, or another family member, with the intention of fulfilling the mitzvah of Shabbos candles. This procedure ensures that the mitzvah is performed in a safe and meaningful way, accommodating the traditional use of candles while adapting to modern circumstances.
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A battery-operated light is recommended over a regular electric lamp
Lighting Shabbos candles is an obligation that applies even to those in hospital. However, hospital regulations forbid the lighting of candles in patient rooms. In such cases, one should light an incandescent electric lamp or flashlight in the hospital room.
Some rabbis prohibit the use of electric lights for Shabbos, as they believe that using electricity in any manner constitutes the appearance of violating Halakhah. In addition, according to some poskim, including Harav Moshe Feinstein, one may not recite a bracha when lighting electric lights.
Therefore, a battery-operated light is recommended over a regular electric lamp. This is because the use of a battery-operated light does not involve the same halachic concerns as turning on an electric light. A battery-operated light can be turned on without pressing any buttons or switches, which may be prohibited on Shabbos. Additionally, a battery-operated light can be used without connecting to the public electricity supply, which some Jews avoid using on Shabbos.
Furthermore, a battery-operated light may be preferable to a regular electric lamp as it is more portable and can be easily moved between rooms or even taken outside the hospital. This can be particularly useful if one needs to avoid using an elevator on Shabbos, as hospitals often have many floors. By using a battery-operated light, one can navigate the hospital while still adhering to the halachic guidelines regarding the use of electricity on Shabbos.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can light Shabbos candles in a hospital. However, as hospitals forbid the lighting of actual candles, you should use an incandescent lamp or flashlight instead.
Some sources say that you should not recite a blessing when using electric lights. However, others say that the blessing of lehadlik ner shel Shabbos can be recited.
It is recommended to use a battery-operated light, such as an incandescent lamp or flashlight, rather than a regular electric lamp. You should not use LED lights.
Yes, the obligation to light Shabbos candles applies even to those who are hospital-bound.
