Live It
Shabbat & Candle Lighting
Create a meaningful weekly habit by setting aside Tzedakah before Shabbat begins.
The tradition of giving Tzedakah before Shabbat is one of the most resilient practices in Jewish life. For centuries, families have placed coins in a pushka moments before lighting candles — weaving generosity into the rhythm of weekly preparation.
This act carries real weight. The Talmud teaches that a home in which giving is practiced welcomes greater blessing. Lighting candles with the awareness that you have just given — even a small amount — transforms the moment into one of deeper intention.
The beauty of the Shabbat giving rhythm is its regularity. You do not need to decide each week. You simply give before the candles are lit. Over a year, those small consistent acts become a meaningful sum and, more importantly, a genuine habit.
Keep a pushka near your candlesticks. When the family gathers for candle lighting, let each person contribute. Children who grow up watching this weekly practice often carry it into their own homes for life.