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Forgetting To Light Shabbos Candles

If a woman or girl forgets to light Shabbos candles, there is a knas, a penalty, that she must light an additional candle from the following week onwards.

There are many discussions in poskim about this halacha:

1. Does it apply in a case where the forgetfulness is considered to be an absolute accident or for a reason beyond her control;

2. There is a discussion about whether the same rule applies if she forgot to light candles on a Yom Tov;

3. If she forgot to light the same number of candles that she normally lights and diminishes their number, [but she didn’t forget altogether];

4. If there is electrical lighting that illuminates the home anyhow; and other similar questions.

In any case where there is a question whether there is a knas to light an additional candle from the following week onwards or maybe only the following week, a Rav should be consulted as to the details. Halacha2go.com #20

Q. May I light Shabbos candles in my apartment if the landlord says not to?

A. It is the renter’s—and every individual’s—responsibility to take all necessary precautions to prevent their Shabbos candles—or their menorah on Chanuka—from posing a fire hazard, and not to leave lit candles unattended. However, a renter (termed socher in halacha) is not bound by any new conditions their landlord might impose after the rental agreement has been signed.

Someone who is borrowing living space is responsible to prevent any damage to the premises in the course of their stay. Although a borrower (shoel) does not pay for accommodation, the transmission of responsibility for the premises constitutes a form of halachic kinyan (acquisition), even if it is only implicit and not verbalized or transcribed. The borrower, as the renter, is only obligated in the original regulations concerning their stay, and the owner cannot later demand they refrain from using candles in a responsible manner.

On the other hand, a houseguest who does not have any type of agreement with their host—such that the length of their stay is at the whim of the homeowner, is bound to follow all their instructions, whether they were set out at the beginning of their stay or added at a later time. Halacha2go.com #741*

Q. May a Non-Jew Light Shabbos Candles for Me?

A. If a person has the custom of lighting a yahrtzeit candle, but forgot to light it before shkiah on Friday evening—and this custom is very important to them—they may ask a non-Jew to light it after shkiah, as long as it is still before tzeis ha’kochavim (nightfall). This is because during the time of bein ha’shmashos (between shkiah and tzeis ha’kochavim), it is permissible, in cases of great need, to ask a non-Jew to do melachos that are forbidden on Shabbos, even if they are melachos min HaTorah.

Similarly, if a woman forgot to light Shabbos candles and realizes it only after shkiah, she may ask a non-Jew to light one candle for her (but not more than one), as long as it is still before tzeis ha’kochavim; after the non-Jew lit the candle, she should cover her eyes, and instead of saying the usual bracha of “Lehadlik ner shel Shabbos Kodesh,” (To light the candle of the Holy Shabbos), she should conclude the bracha with “Al hadlakas ner shel Shabbos Kodesh” (On the lighting of the candle of the Holy Shabbos) since she did not light it herself, and is merely benefitting from the light.

The same concept applies to all other melachos forbidden on Shabbos; if it’s very important to a person to have it done, they may ask a non-Jew to do it for them, but only until tzeis ha’kochavim. Halacha2go.com #369

Electric Candles

There is a debate among poskim whether one can fulfill the mitzva of lighting Shabbos and Yom Tov candles by lighting electric candles. The same question applies to lighting the Chanukah menorah and to making the bracha of borei meorei ha’eish on Motzoei Shabbos.

The consensus among poskim is that regular candles or oil lamps are required for lighting the Chanuka menorah, and the bracha of borei meorei ha’eish may only be recited on actual fire;

however, the mitzva of lighting Shabbos and Yom Tov candles can be fulfilled by using electric candles. Although it is preferable to use regular candles or oil for Shabbos and Yom Tov, if a person is in a place where they cannot light regular candles, such as in a hospital, they may use electric candles instead.

The same applies to the mitzva of bedikas chometz: according to many poskim, one may use a flashlight instead of a candle. Halacha2go.com #263* 

*References are available for this Halacha on: www.Halacha2Go.com and www.AskTheRav.com

Please note that these halachos apply in general situations, if you are unsure whether the halacha applies to your particular situation, please consult a Rov.

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