Shabbat Shalom

It is considered a great mitzvah and responsibility to honor Shabbat by lighting candles 18 minutes before sunset on Friday evening. This unique commandment is rich with meaning and purpose. In a world so full of darkness, the Shabbat candles kindled by Jews bring light, joy and holiness into a world greatly in need of these things.
A little light, our sages say, dispels much darkness. We usually light at least two candles, corresponding to the two
commandments of "Remember the Sabbath" (Exodus 20:8) and "Observe the Sabbath" (Deuteronomy 5:12).
Since we are instructed not to kindle or extinguish fires in our homes on Shabbat, it is very important to know the proper time for candle-lighting.