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NATIONWIDE CANDLE-LIGHTING MEMORIAL ON CAMPUS
On April 20 and 27, Colleges Respond to Tragic Virginia Tech Massacre

This Friday night, April 27th (and last Friday night, April 21st), Jewish women on college campuses across America will join together to dispel the darkness of the Virginia Tech tragedy with the shining light of Shabbat candles.

Rabbi Ari Baitelman, Director of Chabad’s FridayLight project, said that both public candle-lighting events and more private prayer vigils will be held on campuses nationwide at 18 minutes before sundown on Friday, April 27th.

“Many students want to hold a memorial for all those killed in this terrible event, and want to show their concern for their brothers and sisters at Virginia Tech,” said Baitelman. “There is a universal feeling of despair as these innocent young lives were cut short, but we can share the light of hope as the Shabbat candles chase away the darkness.”

The widow of slain Virginia Tech professor Liviu Librescu is encouraging Jewish women to light Shabbat candles in her husband’s memory. Marlene Librescu told Rabbi Shlomo Mayer from Chabad of the University of Virginia, “My husband loved this mitzvah, and he would remind me when the sun was going down on Friday and that it was time to light.” Friday’s candle-lighting memorial marks the start of a week-long effort by Chabad to encourage people to perform acts of goodness and kindness.

Through generations, in good times and bad, the Shabbat candle has symbolized peace and harmony. As students kindle the lights together, they will rejoice in the goodness of man and unite to bring a more positive spirit into the world. The traditional candle-lighting time is 18 minutes before sundown.

FridayLight is distributing thousands of Shabbat candle kits for the April 20 event. Rabbi Baitelman encourages interested participants to stop by their local Chabad center on campus or visit www.fridaylight.org for a free kit.

This intercollegiate effort is sponsored by the Chabad on Campus International Foundation (Chabad.edu), FridayLight (Fridaylight.org), and Chabad’s national network of on-campus student centers, which are listed online at Chabad.edu.

“Everyone is invited join us in this universal gesture so that we respond to this tragedy in a positive way,” said Baitelman. “As we remember those who lost their lives, let’s also strive to replace violence with peace, sadness with hope, and darkness with light.”