Welcome to Embrace Shabbat.
In the introduction to his sefer on Hilchot Shabbat, Rabbi Yaakov Yechezkel Posen quotes a Midrash that describes two of the Torah’s qualities. On the one hand, the Torah illuminates a person and protects him from sinning. Just as a candle prevents a person from stumbling in the dark, similarly, the Torah prevents a person from “stumbling.” Secondly, the Torah also lights up a person’s path so that he can move forward successfully.
In life, a person must balance two simultaneous responsibilities: סור הרע, stay away from evil, ועשה טוב, and do good. Without the Torah, a person doesn’t know what corruption and immorality to stay away from. The Mesillat Yesharim writes that this world can be compared to darkness, where a person may trip and fall if they do not have a guiding light. However, protecting oneself from “tripping” is not enough. A person must also forge a path ahead ועשה טוב, and do good.
While these two aspects can be applied to the entire Torah, they are particularly connected to Shabbat. A person must observe two commandments on Shabbat: זכור ושמור. There are positive commandments, זכור, such as reciting Kiddush and strengthening ones Emunah by remembering that HaKadosh Baruch Hu created the world in six days and rested on the seventh and that He continues to control the world. Additionally, a person must refrain from the negative, שמור, by abstaining from the 39 melachot on Shabbat. Doing one aspect of Shabbat is not sufficient; a person must light up their life with the positive aspects of Shabbat, while simultaneously refraining from the negative commandments.
Rabbi Posen adds an additional component. On Shabbat, a person lights two candles to symbolize זכור ושמור and the two aspects of Torah discussed in the Midrash. The Midrash compares these two components to a candle: for a person walking in the dark, a candle can serve two purposes. On the most basic level, it prevents a person from stumbling in the dark. Additionally, it gives a person the ability to run forward and reach his destination.
On Shabbat, we light two candles to that the laws associated with זכור ושמור will protect us from the “stumbling blocks” of life that lie in our path, but also guide us to our ultimate purpose. Therefore, we usher in Shabbat with the two candles.
The Midrash brings beautiful pesukim showing the power of these candles:
● נֵר לְרַגְלִי דְבָרֶךָ וְאוֹר לִנְתִיבָתִי- David HaMelech says to G-d: “Your words are like a candle to my feet, and a light to my path.”
● ואם תרוץ לא תכשל- when I run, I don’t stumble.
● נר ה' נשמת אדם- the candle of G-d is a person’s soul. Our neshama is compared to a candle. On Shabbat, a person receives a neshama yetaira, an additional soul. The additional candle on Shabbat symbolizes the additional soul.
● Hakadosh Baruch Hu says: נרי בידך ונרך בידי, My candle is in your hand and your candle is in My hand. Hashem’s candle is the Torah, as it says נר מצוה ותורה אור. A person’s candle is their soul. “If you watch My candle, I will watch your candle.” When a person learns Torah, it is as if he lights a candle in front of G-d and gives light to His soul. The two candles on Shabbat can represent these two souls; one candle symbolizes G-d’s soul, which is the Torah and the other candle symbolizes our soul.
This Shabbat, contemplate these beautiful thoughts related to the two candles of Shabbat. It is an eye opening and beautiful addition to our understanding.