Does a single man light Shabbat candles?

It is your obligation to light a candle, and say the blessing, every Friday evening.

The mitzvah of Shabbat candles applies to men and women equally.1 However, for several reasons (see Why is it the woman's role to light the Shabbat candles?) the rabbis instituted that if there is a woman (over the age of bat mitzvah) in the house, she should be the one who fulfills the obligation for the entire household.2

If there is no woman in the house, then the obligation falls upon the man.3

Footnotes

Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orach Chaim 263:5

Ibid.

Ibid 263:9.

By Naftali Silberberg

Rabbi Silberberg resides in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, Chaya Mushka, and their three children.

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17 Comments

Tyler South Africa January 6, 2023

My grandfathers wife recently passed away. Is he allowed to light shabbos candles with a brocha? As well as must he light 5 candles for his 3 kids, his wife in remembrance and 1 for himself? Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org January 9, 2023

in response to Tyler:

I am sorry for your family's loss.

Not only is your grandfather ALLOWED to light Shabos candles with a bracha, he is OBLIGATED to if he doesn't have a wife doing it on his behalf. He can choose whether to light two candles or the same amount his wife would light. Reply

Donald Berger Hollywood, FL July 15, 2022

I am a single man and live alone. I have two adult children who live in distant states. I was once told that i should light three candles on Shabbos, one for myself and one for each child. Is this the correct procedure? DB Reply

Mendel Fogelman for Chabad.org July 19, 2022

in response to Donald Berger:

You should light the standard amount, which is two candles. Reply

donald berger Hollywood, FL January 9, 2023

in response to Mendel Fogelman for Chabad.org :

I do not understand what is meant by two candles being the "standard amount." My question was whether I should light three candles, including two for my two children who live far away. Could you please explain further. Thank you. Reply

Anonymous February 7, 2020

I am 95 years old and live in an assisted living home. Am not allowed to use a flame. How do I manage electric candles?
. Reply

Harry N. Cohen New Haven March 16, 2018

Shabbat Candle Lighting and Work I work in retail and need to work on shabbat every other week. I am a single male. I light candles on Friday even if I will be working Saturday. It gives me a Shabbat feeling of peace that gets me through the work day. Reply

Anonymous Paris March 23, 2020

in response to Harry N. Cohen:

You have the legal right to take Sabbath off, if you should so choose (and not be fired!). Reply

Hugh David Pattison Bala January 6, 2017

does a single man light two Shabbat candles, I wondered if there is one for Dad and one for Mam, then two could be wishfull thinking thst you had a woman to do this, Reply

Mechooel February 14, 2014

Candel Lighting Let us not forget the loss of 6million of our brothers & sisters, the loss of future generation that will never be.it is important to light because those lost in the shoa, the offspring that will not be born that can not light Reply

R Narz Saskatoon March 30, 2013

Theory vs Practise This sounds nice in theory, but I rather doubt if it gets done too much in practice by any men who are living alone and unmarried. If one has not fulfilled the mitzvah of marriage, then the whole sense of shame thing can perhaps sometimes lead one to become overly secular in practice. Reply

Abish nyc, ny/usa via chabadsouthbay.com March 27, 2013

I am a jewish man married to a gentile woman I light shabbos candles every friday by myself. Reply

Anonymous Chicago May 19, 2017

in response to Abish:

I am a convert to Judaism but I am more devout than my Jewish-born wife. She is not motivated to light Shabbat candles but I am, and I do so regularly, and share the experience with our children. I can't imagine that G-d would have a problem with my approach. Reply

dg 07446, nj.....usa December 7, 2011

a man lighting the shabbos candles..... is this shown in the torah....... Reply

DG October 29, 2011

the shabbat lighting of the candles..... I never saw a man light candles, especially shabbas candles.....but, if the woman is somehow incapacitated, is it still kosher if the man in the home does it? Reply

Anonymous April 16, 2009

single wom Does a single woman light one or two candles? I was brought up lighting two but someone told me that one lights two when one is married.... Reply

Robert M CT/ usa February 13, 2009

Keep up the good work of educating the world. It is most needed and deeply appreciated. Reply

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