[Avodah] Why is it customary for women and not men to light the Shabbos candles?

[Professor L. Levine via Avodah]

I have never understood the reason given by the Tur,  since to me it sounds like "original sin."  YL


>From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis


Q. Why is it customary for women and not men to light the Shabbos candles?


A. Shulchan Aruch (263:2-3) writes that both men and women are obligated to fulfill the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles. Given the general rule that it is preferable for individuals to perform a mitzvah themselves (mitzvah bo yoser me'bishlucho), it is surprising that in practice men do not perform this mitzvah and are yotzai with the lighting of their wives. The Shulchan Aruch (ibid) explains that women were awarded this mitzvah because they are the ones who primarily prepare the home for Shabbos. The Tur (based on the Midrash) offers another explanation. Chava shortened Adam's life on erev Shabbos by causing him to sin. Because Chava extinguished G-d's candle (man's neshama), women light Shabbos candles erev Shabbos to atone for that act.

Though men do not light the actual candles, the Mishnah Berurah (263:12) writes that the husband should set up the candles. Furthermore the Mishna Berura (264:28) informs us that the minhag is that the husbands should light the wicks and extinguish them so that when the wife lights the neiros the wicks will easily catch fire.


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