8 “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:8-11 (NKJV)
The following was taken from the book “Enter His Gates To Your Jewish Roots”, by Susan Marcus.
The Sabbath is a unique gift to the nation of Israel by God. It is so important that it is remembered as the fourth of the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”
From the entry of the Sabbath at sundown of Friday afternoon to the ending of the Sabbath one hour after sundown (or when three stars can be seen in the sky), the atmosphere is permeated with joy, good will, rest, and, most importantly, spiritual renewal.
Traditionally, the mother of the home lights the Sabbath candles. They are usually two silver candlesticks although they could be crystal, ceramic, or any other material.
The candles themselves are long burning and last between five and six hours, giving a radiant glow to the home all evening. The mother then lights the candles with a match and covers her eyes as she recites the following blessing:
Baruch atah ADONAI
Eloheinu melech ha’olam
Asher kid-shanu b’mitzvotav:
V’tzivanu l’hadlik
neyr shel Shabbat
Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
Who has sanctified us
by Your commandment
and commanded us to kindle
the light of Shabbat