The one-minute explainer
Why the time changes every week.
Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday, and candles are lit 18 minutes before sundown. Because sundown drifts earlier and later with the seasons, the candle-lighting time is different every single Friday. In Chicago, Friday candle lighting swings from around 4:01pm in midwinter (week of Dec 4) to 8:11pm at the height of summer (week of Jun 25) — the time changes every single week, which is why families keep a table like this on the fridge.
Teaching the moment to your kids? Light two candles, cover your eyes, say the blessing below, then open your eyes — that first look at the flames is the first moment of Shabbat in your home. Our main candle-lighting guide has the full K–6 walkthrough, and the Friday-night blessing guide covers what comes right after: blessing your children.
The blessing
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Translation: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Shabbat.
