As with every major Jewish holiday, women and girls light candles on the eve of Yom Kippur

Here’s how:

On Yom Kippur eve (Sunday, Sept. 20), light a “pre-existing flame” which will be used for Havdalah the following night. See: What Is a Pre-Existing Flame?

Then, 18 minutes before sundown, light candles and say two blessings:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶל שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל יוֹם הַכִּפֻּרִים

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm ah-sher ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nehr nayr shehl Shah-baht veh-shel yohm hah-ki-poo-rim.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Shabbat and Yom Kippur.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-heh-kheh-yah-noo veh-kee-mah-noo ve-hig-ee-yah-noo liz-mahn hah-zeh.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

For local candle-lighting times: Chabad.org/candles

NOTE: If you intend to drive to synagogue for the Kol Nidrei prayers, have in mind while lighting the candles that you are not yet accepting upon yourself the sanctity of the holiday. Then head off to synagogue to arrive well before sunset.

Tune in to the Joy

Although Yom Kippur is the most solemn day of the year, it is suffused with an undercurrent of joy; it is the joy of being immersed in the spirituality of the day and expresses confidence that G‑d will accept our repentance, forgive our sins, and seal our verdict for a year of life, health and happiness.

Wishing you an easy and meaningful fast. Gemar Chatimah Tovah!

As with every major Jewish holiday, women and girls light candles on each evening of Rosh Hashanah.

Here’s how:

Night One

On the first night of Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 11), light a “pre-existing flame” which will be used to light candles again the following night. See: What Is a Pre-Existing Flame?

Then, 18 minutes before sundown, light candles and say two blessings:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶל שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm, ah-shehr ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nayr shehl Shah-baht veh-shel yohm hah-zee-kah-rohn.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Shabbat and of the Day of Remembrance.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-heh-kheh-yah-noo veh-kee-mah-noo ve-hig-ee-yah-noo liz-mahn hah-zeh.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Night Two

Since we may not prepare on one day of Rosh Hashanah for the following day, candle-lighting and all meal prep for night the second night must take place after the first day is completely over. So on the second night of Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 12), after night has fallen, say:

בָּרוּךְ הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְקֹדֶשׁ

Bah-rookh hah-mahv-deel bayn koh-desh li-koh-desh

Blessed is the One who separates between (the) holiness (of Shabbat) and (the) holiness (of the holiday).

Then place your new fruit within eyesight of the table, prepare and light your candles (from your pre-existing flame), and say:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm, ah-shehr ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nayr shehl yohm hah-zee-kah-rohn.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Day of Remembrance.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-heh-kheh-yah-noo veh-kee-mah-noo ve-hig-ee-yah-noo liz-mahn hah-zeh.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

For local candle-lighting times: Chabad.org/candles

You Are Entering a Shabbat Year!

Since Rosh Hashanah is the “head of the year,” and the head literally directs the entire body, it follows that this entire year has a Shabbat theme. Back in 1972, just before the Jewish year of 5733, which also began on Shabbat, the Rebbe explained this to mean that everything we do throughout the year is to be elevated and sacred. Just like Shabbat affords us more time to study Torah and focus on spiritual matters, this entire year enjoins us to bring the Shabbat spirit into everything we do.

Wishing you a sweet, new, Shabbat-filled year. Shanah tovah!

Read: 6 Ways This Year (5787) Is Unique

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