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Both men and women are obligated to light Shabbos candles. So why do so many Torah sources treat it as a woman’s mitzvah?

That question is at the center of The Essential Light, a new learning booklet from Batsheva Learning Center released for Yud Tes Kislev, the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidus.

The booklet opens with Kuntres Inyana Shel Toras HaChassidus, the maamar the Rebbe delivered on Yud Tes Kislev 5726, which asks what Chassidus is at its core – not just what it does – and explains how it brings out the inner point of every layer of Torah.

The booklet then tests that idea with a case study: why were women, in particular, entrusted with lighting Shabbos candles? It looks at the question through pshat, remez, drush, and sod. At first, the four explanations seem to have little in common – until the Chassidus sources uncover the one idea at the heart of all of them.

Compiled by Chana Goldberg and Devorah Silberstein, The Essential Light presents the original sources in Hebrew with English translations, along with Points to Ponder discussion questions throughout. A QR code in the booklet links to a recorded class.

Also back for Chanukah is Yehudis: The Heroine Behind the Miracle of Chanuka, following the story of Yehudis through the halachos and minhagim of Chanuka, with Chassidus explaining why this miracle came through women.

For shluchos and community leaders, both booklets come as event packages including 10 printed booklets, a recorded class, a customizable flyer, a digital copy, and shipping. Women learning on their own can get either booklet as a $5 digital download at batshevalearningcenter.com/booklets.

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