When we were in seminary in Bais Rivka New York in the years 5747-5748, our dormitory was in 781 Eastern Parkway, facing 770 Eastern Parkway.
Until 22 Shvat 5748, every week, we were zoche to watch a really unique and awe-inspiring sight:
After the first siren sounded, 15 minutes before Shabbos, the door of 770 would open. No one was present. The Rebbe would walk -in solitary majesty- out on the path from 770 and turn into the library to say good Shabbos to he Rebbitzin before candle lighting.
As soon as the door to the library closed, we would light our own candles. It was a treasured moment, bentching licht together with our beloved Rebbetzin on the other side of the street, davening behind covered eyes at the same moment as the Shaarei shomayim opened for her tefillos.
Then we would go back to the window to watch the awesome sight of the Rebbe leaving the library and returning to 770. A few minutes later, as the sky over Eastern Parkway was painted in colors of sunset, the second siren would sound.
According to what we witnessed every single week, it seems that the Rebbetzin lit her candles approximately 10 minutes before the time of licht bentchen.
A few years ago, I read that it says in seforim that bentching licht early is an inyan in hastening the coming of Moshiach!
So as a new year begins, do you think we can take this hachlata together to light 10 minutes before the time?
With the power of achdus, this lighting early should be a zchus to hasten and make earlier all the brochos – the coming of Moshiach now mamosh. And may it be a merit for all who are awaiting healthy children, shidduchim, gezunt, harchava begashmius uveruchnius and real chassidishe nachas.
If you are ready to take this upon yourself (bli neder), please write your name, your mother’s name and city you live – in the COLlive comments below or WhatsApp it to +46707408709. All the names will be submitted to the Rebbe’s Ohel.
Please share this with your friends. Let’s light early and bring Moshiach even earlier!
Ksiva vechasima Tova, leshana Tova umesuka,
Leah Namdar
Chabad of Sweden
Yasher koach to the hundreds of women and girls who sent in names to be part of Licht bentchen early. It is an an incredible inspiration to see this chayus for kedusha from BH so many. BH they are all written down for sending to the Ohel today. For those who still wish to join, we will bezH be sending in more names after yomtov. In the zchus of the zrizus for this beautiful Mitzva – so dear to the Rebbe- may Hashem be mezarez and hasten the coming of Moshiach now mamosh! A gut gebentchte yohr and thank you… Read more »
Chinuch Horaah of the Day: Through lighting candles on erev Rosh HaShanah one causes the ushering in of the new year to be accompanied with light. As a result of this, the entire year becomes one permeated with light – because of the action of a small girl. Through this mitzvah, it is openly recognizable how she brings light into all of her surroundings. …The candle light exists before the husband returns from shul, before he, as head of the household makes Kiddush, and even before the first prayer of Rosh HaShanah, the tefillah of ma’ariv. It is the custom… Read more »
Can you please send a picture of this article of Rabbi Greenglass a”h and the comment of the Rebbe, or at least write the exact words of the Rebbe and where this is taken from?
Thank you
The Rebbe and Rebbetzen had an apartment at the library where they lived for Shabbos and yom tov for the last few years until 22 shvat when the Rebbetzen passed away.
1. I don`t see any cynicism in #3, I see an honest question, 2. I see a danger in your response; When people write as fact, assumptions that they have about the Rebbe, because they cannot understand why else the Rebbe would or wouldn’t do something, that creates falseness in the name of the Rebbe, I can think of many reasons why the Rebbe may have gone to the library before licht bentchen but wouldn’t dare to write them because I will not second guess the Rebbe, this has been happening to much in the last couple of decades and… Read more »
Wondering about this, as I read this article:
Why did the Rebbetzin bentsh her Shabbos lichten at the library of 770, and not in the Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s home on President Street?
(Forgive me: I understand the early timing, but the location is something I don’t understand.)
The daughters know they should go first…
She should light and the daughters will eventualy take example and be proactive
Shoshana bas Yocheved Yehudis משיח כאו!
…bli neder. No’omi Ester bas Rochel, Baltimore
Mashiach now!
If one does it three times, is it considered a neder? What if one can’t do it every single week?
If the mother is lighting ten minutes early, the girls should be ready to light earlier – so what should she do if her girls are not ready?
Thanks for sharing this sentiment!
Beila bas Rivka Long Island
the fact that it was always 10 minutes before lichtbentchen time leads one to logically infer that the Rebbe was joining the Rebbetzin as she bentched licht. you don’t think the Rebbe was consistently walking out on the Rebbetzin if she were bentching licht when the siren sounded?
i’m not sure what curiosity does to cats but i am sure that cynicism sours a person.Time for a new year and new beginnings…
I heard someone say, “we need to wait for Shabbos, not Shabbos for us”.
Not all women can light early or light early all of the time. This might make some women anxious. Licht benchen should be done with joy.
Apparently there is something written about Rebbitzin Chana lighting 25 minutes before shkiah, which is pretty much the same thing, concurring with this account.
Lighting earlier than the time means you’re committed. Doing it not because you have to, rather because it’s a mitzvah you cherish. Just like you would come early to something you’re excited for, being fully ready for Shabbos early etc. shows your commitment.
raizel rivkah bas zivia liba to bli neder bezrat Hashem light 10 mins. earlier. ksiva vchasima tovah to klal Yisrael & Moshiach Now!! thanks
At one of the neshai gatherings every chair got a pamphlet with the sgulois of bentching licht earlier. In our house my mother always lit early. That is something we have been doing for as long as I can remember. It’s a wonderful suggestion. Let’s all do it and see the brochos come pouring, with the ultimate bracha of the revalation of moshiach tzidkainu, now, yet before licht bentching today!
To the kids while going and returning from the library, but who says the Rebbe was there for the actual lighting??
Recall a sicha where the Rebbe mentioned the fact of husband being or not being present by the lighting, under circumstances to help before ect.
Lived in the BR dorm across 770 as well. I remember the Rebbe walking to 770 from library around licht bentchen time, and it was a special and holy sight to behold, but not sure about the 10 minute thing.
Is the 10 minute thing an actual documented fact or is just an assumption?
In the sefer from Rabbi Volf Greenglass O”H the Rebbe wrote a note to where RG stated the prevailing custom is to light 18 minutes before the Rebbe added there is a prevailing custom to light 23 minutes before or 5 minutes before the 18 minutes… this should be BLI NEDER the minimum…
Always lit 20 mins before the zman
Been lighting 10 minutes early,mostly, for years. I kept running out of time and lighting during the 18 minutes so I finally made a hachlota to solve the problem and light early. I had no idea the Rebbitzen lit 10 minutes early as well!
malke leie bat freide buenos aires argentina
Thank you Mrs. Namdar.
You are a true role model of how to be a Shlucha!
Always spreading light!!!
Rochel bas Devorah Chana
Very nice sentiment expressed.
Are you sure that the Rebbe went to the library to be present at candle lighting or is that your assumption?
zisel Sara bas Shayna
Michla bas Yasha Lieba- Prov