The Shabat Evening Tradition
עץ חיים
Light two candles at sunset on Shabat
In the Kabbalistic tradition, the two Shabbat candles represent the two columns of the Tree of Life.
The right male column, Chesed חסד and the left female column Gevurah גבורה.
The purpose of lighting two candles is to create balance in the middle column as Shabat opens.
On Shabbat we recognise that the home is a sanctuary. The lady of the house welcomes Shabat by lighting the candles, and reciting a short prayer. Female energy is considered to be the purest link to Divinity.
The Shabbat candles are an invitation to the Divine Presence, the Shechinah שכינה to enter the home.
The lady of the house is considered to be a conduit for light and peace, and to connect Malkut מלכות and the home with the Divinity of the upper nine Sephirot.
On lighting the candles, the lady of the house recites a prayer to welcome the light of Shabat.
Hold two Challah
When the prayer of lighting the candles is complete, the male of the house uncovers two challah and holds them aloft.
The two challah bring together the Sephira of Tiferet harmony and Malkhut the Kingdom of Earth, while reciting a prayer. We are informed by Rabbi Isaac Luria that the two Challah also represent the right male Column, Chesed חסד and the left female Column גבורה Gevurah.
The male of the house then recites a Shabat prayer known as Kiddush קידוש while lifting a cup of wine. The Kabbalah teaches that holding the Kiddush קידוש cup represents holding the Shechinah, the Divine presence.
On completion of the prayer, each member of the house at the dinner table takes a sip of wine from small cups filled from the Kiddush cup.
The male then breaks off small pieces of the Challah for everyone at the table.
Drinking wine and eating bread at the commencement of Shabat symbolizes the connection to the Sephirot
in the Tree of Life.
The ceremony is the origin of the tradition of drinking wine and bread.
The Shabat meal then commences.