Mivtza Neiros Shabbos Kodesh: Difference between revisions

The Mivtza Neiros Shabbos Kodesh (Neshek) is one of the ten mivtzaim (campaigns) initiated by [[the Rebbe]] in 1974.

As part of this campaign, Chabad chassidim work to encourage women and girls from age 3 and up to light [[Shabbos]] candles every Friday. Naturally, this campaign is primarily carried out by Chabad women and girls.

== 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>.

== Background of the Campaign ==

After a report in the Chabad newsletter about the activities of Chabad women in Afula distributing Neshek kits, the Rebbe initiated the campaign, noting that it had already begun in one location.

== Launch of the Campaign ==

The campaign officially began with a sicha delivered by the Rebbe to chassidim on 24 Elul 5734 (1974), where he spoke about and encouraged every Jewish woman and girl to strive to fulfill the mitzvah of lighting [[Shabbos]] and Yom Tov candles. Additionally, girls should begin lighting Shabbos candles from the age of chinuch (education).

The Rebbe also instructed that all details of this campaign apply to Yom Tov candle lighting as well. Over the years, the distribution of kits has expanded significantly. In [[Eretz Yisroel|Eretz Hakodesh]], a special department within the Nshei Ubnos Chabad organization manages the distribution of branded and subsidized kits to facilitate following this directive. They also conduct encouragement campaigns for high school and seminary girls to distribute the kits. In 2019 alone, over 1,200,000 kits were distributed through the organization in Israel (in addition to privately distributed kits and those distributed by other Chabad organizations).

== The Rebbe's Words Regarding the Campaign ==

The Rebbe explains that the essence of Shabbos candles is explained in the Zohar Hakadosh and other sources - to add light, both spiritual and physical, as a tikkun for "Chava extinguishing the light of the world." Therefore, although in previous generations it was customary for daughters to fulfill their obligation through their mother's candle lighting, today, with darkness pervading the world, there is a need to increase both spiritual and physical light by ensuring every girl lights Shabbos candles and makes the bracha with Shem U'Malchus.

It is understood that when explaining to a girl the powers she receives from Hashem to add light and bring the [[Godliness - elokus|Shechina's presence]] into the home, she too will be happy with this zechus.

To succeed in this, there is a known minhag to give tzedakah before lighting candles. It is proper to educate girls in this minhag too, both to train them in this good custom and to help them feel the pain of another Yid who isn't doing well. However, when encouraging giving tzedakah coins before lighting, one must emphasize that it's forbidden for a woman to move the tzedakah box after lighting.

The mitzvah should be done with simcha and good heart, as mentioned in the Zohar Hakadosh regarding this mitzvah - it should be done "with joy of heart and desire."

== Order of Lighting ==

The Rebbe noted that the minhag is for the daughter to light before the mother, and younger daughters before older ones, so the mother and older sister can supervise the younger daughter's lighting to ensure it's done properly.

 

This mivtza is one of three connected to Jewish women, whose roshei teivos spell "ChaNaH": Challah - kashrus of food and drink, Niddah - family purity, and Hadlokas HaNer - lighting Shabbos and Yom Tov candles.

 

 

When Rav Chaim Shalom Segal entered yechidus with his wife and eldest daughter, the Rebbe inquired about the child's age. When told she was one and a half years old, the Rebbe said she should start lighting in about half a year. When the parents responded that they had already begun lighting with her after the Rebbe announced the Neshek campaign, the Rebbe expressed satisfaction.

 

Rav Yaakov Landau testified that the minhag of Chabad chassidim was not to use square-based candlesticks but specifically round-based ones, since the square-based ones originated in Christian churches. In practice, we don't see that Anash are particular about this.

 

At the beginning of the campaign, the activists dealt with the need to remind girls weekly to light the candles before Shabbos. As a solution, they proposed distributing simple candlesticks to every woman who commits to lighting Shabbos candles, so the candlestick itself would serve as a reminder. For this purpose, the campaign managers submitted five different candlestick samples to the Rebbe, and the Rebbe instructed to combine several of them.

 

 

 

This custom applies only to Shabbos candle lighting, not Yom Tov candle lighting.

 

In some Jewish communities, there was a custom to pray with a special text and say a techina before and after lighting candles. [[The Rebbe Rayatz|The Frierdiker Rebbe]] even praised this custom, but when the Rebbe was asked about it, he responded: "I have not heard either for or against it, and I have not seen in the Rebbe's house any special prayer for candle lighting, therefore in my opinion one should not get involved in this."

 

 

 

 

 

[[Category:Mivtzoim]]

[[he:מבצע נרות שבת קודש]]