Editing Mivtza Neiros Shabbos Kodesh (section)

== Historical Background ==
In ancient times, it was customary in several chassidic courts and other places for women to begin lighting candles from a young age. This was practiced in the courts of Belz, Bobov, Ger, Vizhnitz, and even in Lithuania in the Volozhin court with Rabbi Chaim of Brisk and others<ref>Sichos Kodesh 5735 (1975) Volume 1, on HebrewBooks:

In many Chassidic courts, it is customary in the Rebbes' homes for daughters to light Shabbos Kodesh candles, and in some they begin this practice from the age of 12 (this was the custom in Tosh Chassidus, as well as in Sanz-Bobov and Kaminka, Apta, Vizhnitz, Chernobyl, Ruzhin and Slonim. Mentioned in the book "Avodas HaLeviim" - Tosh, p. 124). The Rebbetzin of Skver, granddaughter of the Maharid of Belz, began lighting Shabbos candles from the age of 12 as was customary in Belz (M'Be'er HaShabbos (Pollack), Customs of Shabbos Night, Part 1, p. 74). In the home of the Rebbes of Vizhnitz, they practiced that girls would light 2 candles with a bracha from the age of Bas Mitzvah (Otzar Halachos V'Hanhagos, Customs of the "Yeshuos Moshe" of Vizhnitz, p. 51).

This custom of daughters lighting Neros Shabbos Kodesh is also mentioned in the book "Aruch HaShulchan" (Orach Chaim, 263, 7), whose author was among the great Ashkenazi poskim. The Rebbe referenced the words of "Aruch HaShulchan" on this matter in his talks (Sichos Kodesh 5735 Vol. 1 p. 5. Ibid., p. 300) and in his letters (Igros Kodesh, Vol. 30, p. 26-27).

Among the rabbis of Morocco, the Baba Sali supported Mivtza Neshek, and Rabbi Shalom Messas ruled that unmarried daughters who are guests in their mother's home can light Shabbos candles and make a bracha on them if they do not wish to fulfill their obligation through the candles of the woman of the house, and it is good that they light in a room designated for them (Yalkut Shemesh, Laws of Shabbos, p. 79). And in the pamphlet Neros Shabbos Kodesh, 1, by Rabbi Sholom Dovber Levin, p. 29, note 58, he brings precise details and testimonies that he heard directly from all the courts of Rebbes and Rabbis that their daughters customarily lit Neros Shabbos Kodesh from their childhood. See there at length.</ref>.