1. Blessing for the Shabbos

First light the candles.

Then spread your hands out around the candles drawing your hands inward in a circular motion three times to indicate the acceptance of the sanctity of Shabbat.

You then cover your eyes and recite the following blessing:

Boruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bos Ko-desh

Translation: Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.

Uncover your eyes and behold the Shabbat lights.

The time of lighting is considered especially propitious for praying to G‑d for health and happiness. The prayer is readily acceptable because it is offered during the performance of this great mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles.

Make sure to light the candles before sunset.

Holidays

The procedure for lighting candles on the eve of the holidays is basically the same as the Shabbat candle lighting, except for the following details and blessings (which differ from one festival to another):

• It is permissable to kindle the holiday candles after sundown (except when occuring on the Shabbat), however lighting the candles has to be from a pre-existing flame.

• When lighting on a Friday, light before sunset.

• When lighting on a Saturday evening, the earliest one may light is an hour after sunset.

2. Blessing for the holiday of Rosh Hashanah :

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Ha-zi-karon.

Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Day of Rememberance.

3. The blessing when Rosh HaShanah falls on Shabbat

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bos v'shel Yom Ha-zi-karon.

Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Sabbath and of the Day of Remembrance.

4. Blessing for Yom Kippur :

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sherKi-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Ha-kipurim.

Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Day of Atonement.

5. The blessing when Yom Kippur that Falls on Shabbat

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sherKi-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bos v'shel Yom Ha-kipurim.

Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Sabbath and of the Day of Atonement.

6. Blessing for the Festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot)

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.

Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Festival Day

7. Blessing for the Festivals that fall on Shabbat

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bos v'shel Yom Tov.

Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of Shabbat and of the Festival Day.

8. The Shehechiyonu blessing :

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-he-che-ya-nu Vi-kee-yi-ma-nu Vi-hi-gee-an-u Liz-man Ha-zeh

Translation: Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and let us reach this time.