Welcome to FridayLight

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.

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!

I lit my first Shabbat candle at the age of 26, i.e. 2 months ago. It was the 6th anniversary of my grandmother’s death and I wanted that night to feel special. Someone suggested that I light a Shabbat candle, for myself, my beloved and in my grandmother’s memory. I liked the idea, as I thought that it was an easy gesture, which carried significant meaning.

I am (French) Jewish but I have a very secular life. I’m always interested in Jewish practices but I don’t necessarily apply them to my lifestyle. When I lit the candle and recited the blessing, I found myself spiritually connected to my beloved and in relation to G-d. It was a profound moment of inner serenity. I never thought it could feel this way. Also, especially since I live far away from my family and friends, I feel the need to express my belonging to the Jewish community. And when I think of all the Jewish women lighting the Shabbat candles all over the world, it warms up my heart.

Now each week I look forward to seeing the shining Shabbat flame. I have registered on www.fridaylight.org and I get the candle lighting time each week by email. My mum also registered from France. I think that this website is amazing and I encourage all Jewish women to visit it more often!

Not being Jewish but being led by G_d into a more Jewish understanding of the Scriptures and desiring to understand then more with a Jewish mindset, I somehow found this website and am being richly blessed. I am 55 years old and have walked with HaShem faithfully for over 20 years now but I am longing to know my Hebraic roots as a Christian, more and more. So I have prayed about what G_d would have me to do concerning FridayLight and yesterday my husband inquired about it. I explained what I knew about it and about the Havdalah for “closing out” the Sabbath and he seems willing to give it a try. So I will, with great anticipation, take part this Friday. To all FridayLighters-be blessed in Him who blesses richly and abundantly.

I am making a beginning with lighting candles on Friday at sunset. My ultimate aim is to include my family with short story to dialogue about like a family parsha naso . . . .
I am interested in what nourishing food to prepare for dinner as a regular Friday event.
We are not Jewish. We are however, lacking connective moments where we can recognize what is of value in this lifetime.
I welcome input and ideas on doing this thing . . . .
Anna

I may only be 19 ( 20 in a few weeks) But lighting up is the most amazing experience I have ever beheld. My best friend is a 43 year old woman with 3 kids. Her Fioncee is like a brother to me. When I am at their home I feel HaShem more and see his light he hides int he world. And when I light up at their home I feel the experince more. I feel the warmth the love the power the amazement. Thank doing it alone.It is the single most important part of my week. As a Jewish woman I feel that this is an important task, and I am so blessed to be able to take part in this.

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.”

Tonight I lit the candles for the first time as a female adult. It took me a long time to get to this point, and I am proud to say that the calm I feel in my heart and soul was worth it.

I work on Friday nights, and though I have started a regular practice of going to the rabbi’s house after work; I have never had the joy of lighting candles.

I asked my boss if I could and was suprised to get a positive yes.

They are so beautiful, they fill me with a sense of calm, and happy and fulfillment. I only hope that I will not only continue the practice; but that as time moves on I can dedicate more uninterupted time to the practice.

Today I got two minutes, let’s hope next week for five.

It was the first time i was ever to lite the candles.. I wondered if i was doing it correctly. I lit 3 candles, one for me, one for My husband who was away, and one for my daughter who was working.. and my hopes of having us all together at this first momentous time were a bit dashed.. UNTIL I LIT THE CANDLES! I had a very wonderful experience! I felt the peace of the L-rd around me! HE SEEMED PLEASED.. I decided to just sit and watch the candles flicker as i prayed and then waited. IT grew dark except for the bright candle light. Shalom encompassed me about. I felt the JOY and I am not Jewish by birth.My heart felt so at ease, so at REST. I wondered how I could have not known about the candles all my life until now?
I support Israel and as a christian, my heart roots are based in the same TORAH, the Word of G-d that Israel embraces. Now, at age 51, i began Friday Lights, and the journey of Shalom begins. Blessings to you all and know that support Israel and all the Jewish People and we love you all,
Grace in VT

I am sometimes away on Friday nights and have lit up in all sorts of strange locations from Fiji (in our room) to London—where I had to dash to the hardware store to buy candles.

Last week was one of the strangest. I found myself in a non-smoking hotel in San Francisco so could not ask for matches. I went to Walgreens for water—-and forgot to ask for matches. It was candle lighting time as I headed back to the hotel and I was trying to figure out what to do……then I remembered that the Grace Anglican Cathedral across the way from the hotel and an interfaith chapel with candles, NO crosses etc, and pieces of the AIDS quilt (I am a quilter). So I went over there. The main part of the cathedral was closed for a concert. Luckily no one stopped me en route to the interfaith chapel as it is near the entrance. I lit two candles, said my blessing, meditated, admired the quilt panels and what had gone into them, calmed down and left.

I am not Jewish, and still light the shabbat candles - a practice which was introduced to me through Jewish friends. My family enjoys the consecration of this time, and our prayers are to bring the powerful forces of peace and sanctity into our home and on to the planet. I think it’s a wonderful idea that women hold this light together throughout the world, regardless of faith. We are all connected through G-d, and every one of us can contribute to this blaze of love.

This movement is the most remarkable application of what the power of faith and love can really do, not just for us as a community or even an indivisual, but for a unified vision to extend onto a global scale.
For some months now I have been partcipating, always in company of a loving friend or family member and the results have been life changing. Not only for myself, but for the people I effect as well. We all effect one another, and this wonderful notiion that together we can effect world peace, well that is the most beautiful honorable way of contributing beyond ourselves and directly applying the holistic nature of peace in the world. The unforseen,
energies that hide in the shadows cannot take that sanctity that bonds us as a collective unified whole away. Together we can, and we will continue to erradicate the menacing arbitrations of debate and conflict, the ugliness of greed and war. All is in unison and harmony, all is peace. Today and everyday.
Shalom

I have yet to experience this wonderful concept. I read “Sense of Peace” and as an Employee of the VA here in Sonoma County, I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to read of this young woman’s experience.

I work with Mental Health patients who have suffered from the worse traumas imaginable. Many are newly returned vets from Iraq/Afghanistan who have witnessed what one can say, “the devil at play” events. At times I don’t know how I can cope after hearing of what they witnessed and trying to get these young men and women to be able to adjust back into society.

I pray that Sense of Peace’s husband will be able to adjust and may the power of Shabbos reunite them as a family both in mind and soul.

L’Shanah Tovah to all –

-hinda