Welcome to FridayLight

I am not of the Jewish faith…I am a Lutheran, but I would like to take part in this meaningful ritual. Is that ok?

Just a note that the time you sent by email for Candle Lighting in Jerusalem, Israel for Friday, March 27, 2009 was NOT correct. We are just going to “Summer Time” so the correct time for lighting in Jerusalem is 6:15PM (not 5:15PM).

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem!

suzanne pomeranz
jerusalem, israel

I am originally from N.Y. I moved to Colorado and live in a small rural community with no Jewish influence. It is strictly a Christian setting so my religion is not understood. In fact many times people have tried to convert me but to no avail. I would love to hear from others in the same situation and how they handled it.
Thanks so much. I am thrilled I ran onto this site.

In a city far from my own, a sweet young girl on the street gave me a
FridayLight kit. In my hotel room the next evening, I lit the candles, with
tears of joy and relief as I remembered what I’d forgotten for the past few
years: the rich peace of that Shabbat moment. Thank you for reminding me
what I’ve been missing.

my job was eliminated almost five months ago and it has been very difficult finding a new one. No one seems to be hiring. I am facing an eviction and have no money left from my savings to pay my other bills or keep my medical insurance. I do not have any close family here and only a few Jewish friends who observe their religion. I mostly feel lost and alone until I light the candles on Shabbat.and then I feel very close to so many women whom I do do not know but I know they are lighting candles with me and sending out prayers for all of us who are needy right now so I just want to say,
:THANK YOU, for sharing me in your thougths and I hope one day soon Iwill be able to write a more positive message on the blog.

Karyn Meyers

“Sisters/ Brothers” December 2008

Strangers to me, thousands of miles away

The little boy

The picture of the happy couple

My heart tearing at each news flash

Sorrow and anger dancing in me

I feel the pain of my Jewish sisters, my brothers

The wheel turns once again

The covenant is complete

What the mikveh started blood has completed

I will light the candles, remembering not what is known

But knowing what has been given

Today I am a Jew

At the age of 48 I entered the mikveh in April of 2008. It is hard to be a newborn at 48 years old!

My connection to our history, our rituals is deeply felt but also informed by intense study. I have no personal Jewish history, my history is our history. I read the stories of heroic women and men, of times of strife and pain, joys and miracles. I struggle with a feeling of bereavement, why had I not found my true home earlier?why was my path so long? Hashem alone knows that answer!I do not spend much time questioning my history, I have too much to learn!

I have become aware that I get briefly tearful when I hear the stories of childhood memories of candles and challah, but rebound with joy with the help of the collective warmth of our tradition. Lighting Shabbat candles is more than an obligation, a mitzvoth to be adhered to. Lighting the candles connects me to our history, our stories our covenant. It is both a deeply personal meditative experience while also being my public declaration ” I am a Jew.”

Rachel bat Abraham and Sarah

Hi everyone. I just wanted to add my voice to the blog and share how much I love the whole idea of spreading the light of Shabbat and beyond. My favorite part of Shabbat has always been watching the candles, turning off the electric lights and just watching the flames dance. They give such a wonderful, warm glow to the house!

I’m a Professional Organizer, active in my associations, so I travel to out-of-state conferences a few times a year. The most recent one was in September in St. Louis, the weekend before Rosh Hoshanah. I brought my little Friday Light starter kit and a siddur with me, my (non-Jewish) roommate brought challah, grape juice, and extra tea lights, and we had about 10 women in our hotel room to welcome Shabbat. We sang, a woman in her 50s who was preparing for her Bat Mitzvah led the kiddush, and we all lit our own candles. It was a beautiful experience. Someone even made a donation to our association in honor of our having Shabbat!

I love to spread the light.

Welcome to the Organization page of myfridaylight.org!
Feel free to share thoughts, program ideas, and best practices with each other.

Thank you for sharing the light!

responding to above - you can light either direction and with any of the above - match or lighter - whatever’s easier…

Hello,
My parents are immigrants, as most of us are. Tate was born in Russia, Mom was born in Germany. I am at the proud age of 59 the first generation in America on both sides.

Growing up I was raised Orthodox, yes we lit candles and though the home was not kosher, we did follow most of the Orthodox laws. Tate passed away when I was 9, by the time I was 10 Jewry had come to a halt in my family. My mother entered the vicious world of depression, alcoholism and abuse of prescription medications. Gone nothing to bring back to the Jewish life.

I wandered around for some 48 1/2 years searching for many things. About 6-7 months ago I strongly felt the need to honor my father and mother. The only way that I thought I could do this was to rediscover my Jewish roots.

Slowly I learned a little of this and a little of that. Suddenly I was lighting Shabbos candles, I could not recall fully how to do this, but it was at least an attempt.

I am learning so much now, I have bought my first ever Tanach, transliterated Stone Edition, my first Bencher, and now today in the mail came my first ArtScroll Transliterated Siddur.

I look forward to Friday now not simply because it is the weekend. I was never the party girl, but liked to slow down. Now Friday nights are filled with love and light. I am sure that I mispronounce many of the transliterated Hebrew, that is fine with practice I will improve.

What a simcha this new journey has begun.

My husband is not Jewish but very respectful of my desire to learn more and more of my background. He stands with me as I light the candles, he does not talk while I say the prayer over the wine, nor when I say the prayer over the challah. He shares the Sabbath with me so now Friday night Shabbos has become joy and learning experience for the both of us.

Thank you feel free to share your stories with me, as well as offer tons of advice.

Paula Bonnie

When I am lighting Shabbat candles after a really hectic week, I try to remember people who need blessings for children, health, Parnassah, or any other help, and include them in my davening. Also, there is a beautiful book of prayers which I like to use when I am lighting, and it is called T’chinos. Lighting Shabbat candles makes me feel that I, personally, am bringing more peace and light into the world.

My story might be a bit different than most. I was born (out of wedlock) to a Russian/Polish Jewish woman and an African-American man in the early 1950’s. I was given away at birth beause she planned to return to her Orthodox Jewish family and could not bring a “black” child with her. (Or so she felt). She never did go back but stayed and married the man. I, however, remained with another biracial couple who raised me.

My adopted mother was also white- but not Jewish. I was baptised and confirmed as a Lutheran. It would be some years before I realized what being Jewish meant.

I now embrace my Jewishness wholeheartedly although I have never yet been in a synagogue. The candlelighting has become a very special ceremony for me, however.

I was exposed to it almost by happenstance. I met an obvious Jewish Hassidic(?) man in dark clothing and wearing a beard in a supermarket parking lot. We struck up a conversation and when he discovered my mother was Jewish he informed me that I was a Jew- without doubt.

Going into the trunk of his car, he gave me some literature about lighting the candle(s) and why I should be doing it.

This whole experience has made me feel part of something special everytime I light my candle, even if that is all I know to do at this point.

Thank you for having such a wonderful website!
Shalom,
Linda in Detroit

One of the greatest blessings in my life has been the practice of lighting the Shabbat lights. It started about 5 years ago, when after praying to HaShem for a deeper life and understanding of Himself, He lead me into Torah (I am not Jewish by birth)! Regardless of how busy the week has been, I always try to prepare a special dinner and get the table ready for the Shabbat. There is something so deep and intimate knowing that I light my candles in my home and say the ancient prayers, the same is being done by my sisters in HaShem worldwide. The double portion of blessing comes from hearing the prayers and blessings from my husband spoken over the Challah and wine. What a beautiful and peaceful way to enter into the Shabbat! Blessed is HaShem who draws ALL people to Himself in loving kindness.

Photo of soldier in Iraq lighting FridayLight candles.

My story is very simple. Very recently, I felt a need to start lighting candles on Shabbos. I searched on line and found the prayer that I remembered my Bubbe saying. I found Shabbos candles in a nearby grocery store and now am in search of candles holders (believe it or not, I don’t have a one in the house).

I can’t wait until I light my first candles and I can imagine how I will feel the tie to other Jewish women world-wide who are also lighting candles that evening.

Lesley

I was telling a friend about lighting the Shabbat candles and she asked me how long you keep the candles lit.  I couldn’t answer her!  If you are going to services, of course, you put the candles out when you leave your home, but, what if you are staying home?  How long do you keep the Shabbat candles lit?

I had an interesting experience last weekend at Lake San Antonio in Monterey County, California. I was going camping with four families, only one which I knew, but nonetheless, I brought my FridayLight starter kit with me, so I could light Shabbat candles lakeside. I had no idea if the other families lit candles or, were even Jewish. So, you can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find that they had brought Challah, Kosher wine and enough candles for all the women and girls to light! We then shared a lovely Shabbat dinner under the stars, with a Latino family reunion to one side of us, and a Russian family campout to the other.

Has anyone wondered how it must feel to light the Shabbat candles from different places in the world? Does G-d feel as close from Brazil, France or Morocco? How about South Africa or Israel?

I find it fascinating to realize that no matter where we are in the world, there are people like us, who share the same beliefs and have the same faith. We may look different and have different traditions, we all share the same history and belong to the same people. Our history of Diaspora makes it even more important that we feel close to one another. We must take interest in our respective cultures, this is the only way we can understand each other.

As you’re reading this, ask yourself if you’ve ever lit the Shabbat candles either in a different country, or following traditions that seemed unusual to you. Then take a moment and type it up. We’ll all benefit from it. Thank you and have a great 4th of July!

The sacred spirit of Shabbat is often referred to as the “Shabbat Queen.” The Shabbat Queen is symbolic of the feminine aspect of the Divine, the “Shechina”, G-d ’s dwelling presence.

As a Jewish woman welcomes the Shabbat on Friday night, she creates a sacred space within her home for the Infinite Light of G-d, and the Shabbat Queen enters.

As you ignite your Shabbat flame tonight, focus on the sacred space you are creating in your home, and try to make sure there’s a matching place inside your heart. When the Shabbat Queen arrives- you want to leave all doors open! Enjoy the visit.

After igniting your Shabbat flame tonight and before reciting the blessing, fulfill the age old custom of ushering in the light of Shabbat by waving your hands three times around the flames.  And then, after this painful week in which we have witnessed the atrocities that human hands can accomplish, focus on the holiness that hands can also bring into our world.
 

Hands can transform an abstract light into a physical act of kindness. Hands can express love, and reach out to a soul in need. Hands can usher in the light of Shabbat. As you do so tonight, concentrate on the many forms of light your hands will bring into this world in your lifetime.
 

Shabbat Shalom.