Breakthrough in Belz: An Additional Candle to Ignite Neshamas

Last Thursday, the Belzer Rebbe shlita introduced a new practice for Belzer chassidim worldwide, calling on families—particularly women lighting Shabbos candles—to add an additional candle each Shabbos and Yom Tov as a zechus for Yiddishe Neshamas who have drifted from Yiddishkeit, accompanied by a tefillah that they return to their roots.

The initiative was announced at a gathering at the Belzer Rebbe’s residence in Kiryat Belz in Yerushalayim, attended by leading Belzer rabbonim. The Rebbe expressed his wish that those who can do so without difficulty add one candle each week and daven for fellow Jews to return beneath the wings of the Shechinah, and for the complete geulah of Klal Yisroel.

Rav Pinchos Friedman shlita and Rav Menachem Yisroel Reisman shlita spoke about the Rebbe’s longstanding dedication to bringing Jewish souls closer to Yiddishkeit.

Rav Friedman formally announced the new practice, recalling the well-known story of the Mahari”d of Belz, who would prepare special candles for Jewish soldiers and for Jews living in distant places who were unaware of the holiness of Shabbos.

Rav Friedman also quoted the Rebbe’s emphasis on the zechus of davening for another person who needs the same yeshuah, expressing the hope that by davening for those who have strayed, families would merit to see their own children continue in the path of Torah and yiras Shomayim.

The rabbonim noted the longstanding Belzer tradition that lighting Shabbos candles is an especially auspicious time for yeshuos and refuah. The Rebbe stressed, however, that the additional candle should not become a burden: “Adding a candle is certainly a great matter, and for someone who can light it without difficulty, it is a good thing.”

At the conclusion, the Rebbe requested one candle for himself and sent another to his son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach.

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