How does one light Shabbat candles?
The mitzvah of shabbat candles is to illuminate the room in which one spends shabbat, facilitating a more pleasant experience. This mitzvah applies to men and women alike. The lighting of the candles should be done on Friday afternoon, well before Shabbat starts. When lighting the candles, the following blessing is recited: ‘ – , . Baruch Ata Adonai Elohenu Melech Haolam Asher Kideshanu Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Shabbat. Blessed are you God our Lord King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the candle of Shabbat. Women recite the blessing after lighting the candles, men before. If a woman plans to continue doing melacha after lighting the candles, she should stipulate that prior to lighting.
