Did you know the reason for the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles? It is written in the Shulchan Aruch (code of Jewish Law) that the reason is to ensure that there is light in the house so people don't trip on a stick or stone. We may ask, am I exempt from lighting if there aren't any sticks or stones in my house? The answer, of course, is yes. There is another purpose Shabbos candles serve. This is to bring peace to the home. Light at times is very good, it allows us to see what is going on. At other times, light allows us to see some of the ugliness that is hiding under the surface. Since Shabbos candles are the light of a mitzvah, they automatically only reveal G-dly light.
In this week's Torah portion, we talk about the darkness of the metzorah. A metzorah creates fighting and discord through their gossip and talk about others. How long does he/she need to be in a house for the impurity to transfer to the home? As long as it takes to light Shabbos candles.
Why? Because the antidote to fighting is the light of the Shabbos candles.
What is the root cause of fighting? When we worship ourselves and see ourselves as greater than someone else. In order not to trip on our man-made idols (of sticks and stone), we need the light of a mitzvah to shine. Not just the spiritual light of any mitzvah, but the light of a mitzvah that has a physical shining in our physical world.
Light Shabbos candles this week by 7:31 pm (in Harford County) and you will add to the peace in our world.
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
P.S. At Harford Chabad we have a Shabbos candle reminder text service. To sign up, text the words Shabbos candles to 443-353-9718.