Global Effort to Light Shabbos Candles for Israel

By Sruly Meyer – COLlive

In a powerful initiative, the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein family, in collaboration with Chabad.org, is launching a global campaign aimed at inspiring women worldwide to light Shabbat candles this week in a show of solidarity with Israel. This meaningful endeavor, carrying the hashtag #LightForIsrael, is designed to foster unity and spread light in a world currently shrouded in darkness.

Nicole Schottenstein, a mother of four young girls and one of the driving forces behind this campaign, expressed, “Right now, everyone feels a little alone and helpless, and this is a way to come together and bring light to the dark world. They say that lighting Shabbat candles can bring miracles, and that is what we need right now.”

Also launching this week by Bais Shmuel Chabad in Crown Heights is a project that aims to give out 100,000 Shabbat candle kits to encourage the lighting of Shabbos candles on Friday. Bais Rivkah students in Crown Heights have committed to distributing 10,000 candles, and are encouraging all others to join.

The #LightForIsrael campaign is primarily leveraging social media and word-of-mouth communication to reach its audience. As part of the campaign’s challenge, women are encouraged to contact their local Chabad center to acquire a set of Shabbat candles, then take a selfie with the candles and share the photo on social media, tagging three other individuals with the campaign’s hashtag.

The culmination of the campaign involves lighting the candles precisely 18 minutes before sunset, with the start times of Shabbat varying across different locales.

Social media influencer Ellie Zeiler, who has a very large following of 10.7 million on TikTok and a Chabad community background, is actively promoting #LightForIsrael. Zeiler stated, “The most important thing I know about being Jewish I learned from growing up in the Chabad community: it is that our purpose is to put kindness and light into the world. By lighting a candle in solidarity, we become closer to one another while continuing to share our light.”

However, this campaign isn’t exclusive to official influencers. Following the words of the Rebbe who emphasized that “if one knows alef, he should teach alef,” this initiative encourages everyone to become an “influencer” of kindness and light in the world.

On any typical Friday afternoon, lighting Shabbat candles provides a precious opportunity to reflect on the week, pause, and pray for one’s needs and desires. This week, the significance is magnified as women worldwide join in prayer for peace in Israel and the safety of the Israel Defense Forces and the people held captive by Hamas. This is another way of driving back the darkness by filling our homes with light.

For those uncertain about what to contemplate or pray for during candle-lighting, Schottenstein reassures, “There’s no wrong thing to say and ask; just pray.”
To join this inspirational campaign head to Chabad.org/lightforisrael

Over the past few days, we’ve witnessed extreme tragedy and darkness, with thousands of Jews facing violence, injuries, and abductions, tearing families apart. The entire Jewish community is in deep pain. The campaign website says, “When you light the Shabbat candles, you add both physical and spiritual light to the world, and right now, the world needs it more than ever before. Our brave IDF soldiers need your light. The injured need your light. The hostages need your light. The victims need your light. The world needs your light!”

Light Shabbat candles this Friday, and every Friday. If you already do so regularly, consider making a charitable contribution before lighting, and encourage your friends to join in.

You can find candle lighting times in your area using this website.

You don’t have to be a Shliach or a Social Media Influencer to spread the message. Write that you are lighting candles and tag three friends on your social media to encourage them to do the same! Click here to join now!