National Council of Jewish Women
Greater Detroit Section
Just 4 Kids Committee
Invites you to the
Grand Opening
In addition to receiving two
Shabbat candlesticks and candles,
her package included an instruction
booklet and a calendar of times to
know when to light the candles.
"My husband [David] and I plan
to raise our children to practice and
understand Jewish customs, includ-
ing Shabbat," she said. "We hope to
be positive Jewish role models for
them. I have been lighting the can-
dles and have found the experience
to be very spiritual. I especially like
how it shifts the focus from the
stresses of the workweek to the calm
and relaxation of the weekend. We
hope that lighting the Shabbat can-
dles will continue be a very special
weekly ritual for our family."
Who Lighting?
"Many people think Shabbat candle-
lighting is only for married women,"
Amzalak said. "But it is for single
women and girls, too."
She also says it is a mitzvah that
transcends the streams of Judaism.
"Lighting Shabbat candles is a
very meaningful experience, no mat-
ter what the Jewish affiliation,"
Amzalak said. "Also people some-
times say they can't light Shabbat
candles because they don't keep
Shabbat, but one thing doesn't
depend on the other. Every mitzvah
we do adds light to the world and
tips the scale a little more to the
good side."
While the mitzvah of lighting
Shabbat candles has traditionally
been given to women, when there is
no woman present, the obligation
falls on men. "Men lighting candles
is part of the way we fulfill the com-
mandment to 'remember the
Shabbat and keep it holy,'" said
Rabbi Daniel Nevins of Conserva-
tive Adat Shalom Synagogue. "The
custom is for married men to rely on
their wives, but single men who
don't live with their mother should
certainly light candles."
Even in a home where the women
are lighting the candles, "it is a
beautiful tradition to have the close-
ness of the whole family present,
Amzalak said.
"The one constant piece of mari-
tal advice I give to couples about to
be married is that from the first
Shabbat after the wedding, they
should make the commitment to
light candles together every Friday
night," said Rabbi Paul Yedwab of
Reform Temple Israel.
"No matter how busy they have
been during the week, whether they
have fought or gotten along, Friday
evening comes, they light the can-
dles, look into the flames, say an
ancient blessing, and remember that
their life together is holy and their
relationship sacred."
Orthodox Rabbi Mendel Stock of
Oak Park typically stands with his
family while his wife lights the
Shabbat candles. "There is a feeling
of peace," he said. "The women who
will pray for peace in Israel on May
30 remind me of [the Yalkut
Shimoni biblical interpretation] "If
you cherish the lights of Shabbat, I
will show you the lights of Zion."
• •
•
A
ALL Kiri 9LAY4ROUND
Vti'lere A': Kids Ale
NATIONAL COUNCIL Of IRVISH WOMEN GriCAIER CIETIMITSECRON
A universally accessible playground where children of all
abilities, Including those with spacial needs, can play together.
Date: Sunday, June 8, 2003
2:00-4:00 p.m.
I- fess-Hathaway Park
in Waterford
Glorious Glow
"Our hope is for hundreds and
thousands and millions of women to
light candles May 30, and to think
of peace in Israel," said Tzivie
Greenberg, a New York-based
Neshek project coordinator.
That could add up to a lot of
flames, with women traditionally
lighting two candles — representing
the two times the fourth command-
ment is recited in the Torah:
"Remember the Sabbath" and
"Observe the Sabbath." Some add an
additional candle for each of their
children. Girls and single women
light one candle, in deference to
their mothers.
Women and girls have committed
to the May 30 candlelighting from
as far as Scotland, Singapore and
Australia. In the United State, their
homes span from Honolulu to
Gainesville, Fla., and from El Paso,
Texas, to Delaware.
"Every week students in our pro-
grams around the world distribute
candles and brochures in their com-
munities," said Rochie Alevsky, a
Neshek project coordinator. "But for
this week, we have created 100,000
extra brochures, candle kits and
posters. Every day more and more
people call us with orders."
Brochures have been translated
into languages including French,
Dutch and German.
Shabbat Candles for Peace is a
first-time endeavor of Neshek, an
ongoing project of the late
Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
Neshek is a program of Kinus
HaShluchos, a New York-based
resource center for the 3,000
Chabad emissaries worldwide.
"We wanted to do something to
$5.00 per family
grins Your Family and Friends
(Pay
at the plerygrarred)
Please RSVP by June 4, 2003
NCJW/GDS 0-f-f;ce (248) 355-3300
In case of inclernet weather call (248) 64 6-2800 between 11:00 arn.-1:00 p.m on June 8th
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LIGHTS OF PEACE on page 54
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RENOVATIONS
684120
5/30
2003
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