610 - תרי הדלקת הנרות ביום הכיפורים ובו י' סעיפים

610 - Lighting the Candles on Yom Kippur - 10 Subsections

1 Yom Kippur must be honored with candles as on other Yamim Tovim, as will be explained.

Except that there are places that practice a prohibition regarding lighting a candle on the night of Yom Kippur in a house where a man and his wife dwell. A decree, lest he desire his wife when he sees her by the light of the candle and come to marital relations.

But there are places that light in the house — since it is forbidden to have relations by the light of a candle, he will certainly not come to relations.

And those places that do light must bless: "Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the candle of Yom Kippur." For behold, on Yom Kippur it is a mitzvah to light candles as on Shabbosos and Yamim Tovim.

2 If he has a candle burning in the house — he must light a candle in the room where he sleeps with his wife. Both in a place where the practice is to light and in a place where the practice is not to light.

For since he sees his wife by the light of the candle in the house, there is therefore concern lest he come to relations in the room where no candle is burning.

3 Even in places where they do not light in the house — nevertheless they light in the synagogues and study halls, and in dark alleyways, and over the sick.

And likewise if Yom Kippur falls on Shabbos — all are obligated to light even in his house. And they bless: "Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the candle of Shabbos and of Yom Kippur."

4 The practice everywhere is to spread beautiful cloths in the synagogue. And also in the houses, to spread a beautiful cloth on the table as on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

And likewise the practice is to increase candles in the synagogue. For it is said: "Therefore with lights honor the Lord" (Yeshayahu 24:15), and we render it in the Targum: "with lamps honor the Lord."

And it is good to make thick wicks in the synagogue to increase their light.

And the practice was that for every man, adult and minor — they make for him a candle for the synagogue.

And now the practice is that they make a candle only for a married man.

5 They also practiced to make a soul-candle for his father and mother who died.

6 And if these candles went out on Yom Kippur — one should not tell a non-Jew to go back and light them.

And even to hint to him — is forbidden.

And moreover, if he comes to light on his own — one must protest against him. As explained in siman 276^[1].

And likewise one should not tell a non-Jew to catch the wax that drips from the candles. Because a Jew is forbidden to move the wax, since it is muktzeh, as explained in siman 265^[2]. And anything that a Jew is not permitted to move — it is forbidden to tell a non-Jew to move it. As explained in siman 276^[3]. See there.

7 And the practice was to take a non-Jew to guard the candles — so that there should not come, God forbid, to a fire.

And on account of this, the masses practiced to tell him to extinguish and to light. And there is no permission for this at all. And one should protest against them. And especially on the Day of Judgment.

8 One whose candle went out on Yom Kippur — it is a bad sign for him.

And his remedy — that he should go back and light it on motzaei Yom Kippur and not extinguish it again, but rather leave it to burn to the end.

And he should also accept upon himself — that all his days he will not extinguish his candle on motzaei Yom Kippur, neither he nor another, but rather leave it to burn to the end.

("To the holy one of the Lord, honored" (Yeshayahu 58:13) — this is Yom Kippur, which has no eating and drinking.

The Torah said: honor it with clean clothing and with candles. Therefore, the practice is to spread beautiful cloths in the synagogue.)

9 There are those who practice to wear white, clean garments on Yom Kippur — in order to be like the ministering angels.

And likewise the practice in these countries is to wear the kittel, which is a white and clean garment.

And there is a further reason for wearing the kittel, because it is a garment of the dead, and through this a man's heart is humbled to do complete teshuvah.

And therefore, even one who is a mourner — is permitted to wear the kittel.

And likewise women may wear the kittel — in order to humble their hearts.

But other white garments they should not wear in order to be like the ministering angels — for they cannot be like angels. For it is said: "A wise man goes up to the city of the mighty," etc. (Mishlei 21:22) — "men" is written.

10 One who wears sackcloth on account of teshuvah — must remove it on Yom Kippur — because it is a Yom Tov, and one must honor it with clean clothing, as explained.

Notes

^[1] "siman 276" — se'if 3. ↑

^[2] "siman 265" — se'if 5. ↑

^[3] "siman 276" — se'if 10. ↑