Chabad Jewish Centre of Barrie
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What’s With the Candles?

Picture
Question:

I notice that lighting candles is a big part of Judaism. We light candles every Friday for Shabbat, we light candles on every festival, andChanukah is all about candles. What is the connection between candles and spirituality?

Answer:

There is something about a candle that makes it more spiritual than physical. A physical substance, when spread, becomes thin. Spirituality, when spread, expands and grows.

When you use something physical, it is diminished. The more money you spend, the less you have; the more gasoline you use, the more empty your tank becomes; the more food you eat, the more you need to restock your pantry. But spiritual things increase with use. If I use my wisdom to teach, the student learns, and I come out wiser for it; if I share my love with another, I become more loving, not less. When you give a spiritual gift, the recipient gains, and you lose nothing.

This is the spiritual property that candles share. When you use one candle to light another, the original candle remains bright. Its light is not diminished by being shared; on the contrary, the two candles together enhance each other’s brightness and increase light.

We sometimes worry that we may stretch ourselves too thin. In matters of spirit, this is never the case. The more goodness we spread, the more goodness we have. By making a new friend, you become a better friend to your old friends. By having another child, you open a new corridor of love in your heart that your other children benefit from, too. By teaching more students, you become wiser.

Keep lighting your candles. There is an endless supply of light in your soul. You will never run out of goodness.


By Aron Moss

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Organization
    • The Rabbi
    • Jewish Area
    • Photo Gallery
    • Support plans
  • Programs
    • Event Calendar
    • Adult Education >
      • Lunch and Learn
      • Study Course
      • Torah Tales course
      • One on One Torah study
      • Articles & Insights
      • Questions & Answers
    • Inspirational Evening
    • Community Shabbat dinner
    • Gan Chabad Jewish Preschool >
      • Preschool Survey
    • Hebrew School
    • Summer Camp >
      • About
      • Testimonials
      • Photo Gallery
      • Dates & Rates
      • Registration
      • Faq's
    • Mini Gan Israel
    • JTeens
    • Jewish Lending Library
    • Jewish Holidays >
      • High Holidays >
        • Pre Rosh Hashana kids fun day
      • Sukkot
      • Simchat Torah
      • Chanukah >
        • Chanukah Menorah & Candles
        • Chanukah Sufganiyot Orders
        • Menorah Workshop
        • Chanukah Wonderland
      • Purim >
        • Hamantash bake
      • Passover >
        • Passover Seder
        • Order Shmurah Matzah
        • What is Shmurah Matzah?
        • Model Matzah Bakery
        • Selling Chametz
      • Lag Ba'omer
      • Shavuot
    • Synagogue Services
    • Challah Bake
    • Community BBQ
  • Jewish Practice
    • Bar/Bat Mitzvah
    • Jewish Calendar >
      • Request a Holiday package
    • Mezuzah
    • How to light the Menorah
    • Shabbat Candle Lighting >
      • How to
      • Shabbat Times for Barrie
      • Shabbat SMS Reminder
      • Holiday Candle Lighting
    • Kosher Beverages
    • Kosher Poultry
    • Kosher Products
    • Kosher Meals >
      • Kosher Order Form
    • Mikvah
  • Contact
    • Join our email list
    • Ask the Rabbi
  • Donate
    • Building fund
    • Support plans