As with every major Jewish holiday, women and girls light candles on each evening of Rosh Hashanah.
Here’s how:
Night One
On the first night of Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 11), light a “pre-existing flame” which will be used to light candles again the following night. See: What Is a Pre-Existing Flame?
Then, 18 minutes before sundown, light candles and say two blessings:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶל שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן
Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm, ah-shehr ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nayr shehl Shah-baht veh-shel yohm hah-zee-kah-rohn.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Shabbat and of the Day of Remembrance.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-heh-kheh-yah-noo veh-kee-mah-noo ve-hig-ee-yah-noo liz-mahn hah-zeh.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
Night Two
Since we may not prepare on one day of Rosh Hashanah for the following day, candle-lighting and all meal prep for night the second night must take place after the first day is completely over. So on the second night of Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 12), after night has fallen, say:
בָּרוּךְ הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְקֹדֶשׁ
Bah-rookh hah-mahv-deel bayn koh-desh li-koh-desh
Blessed is the One who separates between (the) holiness (of Shabbat) and (the) holiness (of the holiday).
Then place your new fruit within eyesight of the table, prepare and light your candles (from your pre-existing flame), and say:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן
Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm, ah-shehr ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nayr shehl yohm hah-zee-kah-rohn.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Day of Remembrance.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-heh-kheh-yah-noo veh-kee-mah-noo ve-hig-ee-yah-noo liz-mahn hah-zeh.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
For local candle-lighting times: Chabad.org/candles
You Are Entering a Shabbat Year!
Since Rosh Hashanah is the “head of the year,” and the head literally directs the entire body, it follows that this entire year has a Shabbat theme. Back in 1972, just before the Jewish year of 5733, which also began on Shabbat, the Rebbe explained this to mean that everything we do throughout the year is to be elevated and sacred. Just like Shabbat affords us more time to study Torah and focus on spiritual matters, this entire year enjoins us to bring the Shabbat spirit into everything we do.
Wishing you a sweet, new, Shabbat-filled year. Shanah tovah!
