When a family is learning Jewish practices for the first time, the candle can feel like the gentlest place to start. A flame asks very little of you. It doesn’t require the perfect words, the perfect theology, or even a perfectly organized heart. It simply makes space for presence. That is part of why white Shabbat candles and the yahrzeit candle show up again and again in Jewish homes: they mark time, they soften the room, and they give memory a place to land.
In many Jewish communities, plain white candles are common not because Judaism mandates a specific color in every situation, but because white feels simple, clean, and focused. As the Jewish Theological Seminary describes it, the lighting of two Shabbat candles has become a familiar way to carry Shabbat into the home. The effect is both practical and spiritual: a small ceremony that turns an ordinary Friday evening into something set apart.
This guide is meant to be beginner-friendly and respectful. Customs vary across families and communities, and Jewish practice is lived in real homes with real constraints: small apartments, kids and pets, travel schedules, and grief that can make even simple steps feel heavy. Here you’ll find a clear overview of shabbat candles meaning, how memorial candles work for yahrzeit, what kinds of candles families use (and how long they tend to burn), plus a calm shopping guide for unscented white candles and sturdy holders.
Why candlelight matters in Jewish life
Judaism is often described as a tradition that sanctifies time. Candle rituals are one of the most accessible ways to feel that idea in your hands. Lighting Shabbat candles doesn’t just “decorate” the evening; it signals a transition. A yahrzeit candle doesn’t just “remember” a person; it gives remembrance a steady, visible shape for a full day.
If you are mourning, this can be especially comforting. Grief has a way of making time feel slippery—weeks blur, anniversaries sneak up, and the heart doesn’t always match the calendar. A jewish memorial candle creates a container for that day. It says: today matters, this person matters, and I can honor them with something small, steady, and sincere.
Shabbat candles: welcoming peace, marking the beginning
Shabbat candle lighting is traditionally done before Shabbat begins. Many communities light at least two candles, and the timing is tied to sunset. My Jewish Learning notes the common custom of lighting during the 18-minute window before sundown on Friday, and Chabad.org similarly explains the practice of lighting 18 minutes before sunset (with local customs sometimes differing). If you’re new to this, the simplest takeaway is: Shabbat candles are lit before sunset, not after, and many families check published candle-lighting times for their location.
Why two candles? A classic explanation is that the pair reflects two Torah verbs associated with Shabbat—remember and observe. The Reform Judaism resource walks through this symbolism, linking it to the two versions of the Ten Commandments that use those different words. Some families add more candles—one for each child, or one for each person who feels included in the home’s Shabbat circle. Others keep it to two, year after year, because consistency itself becomes the comfort.
As for white shabbat candles, you’ll see white tapers (and white tea lights) often because they are easy to find, neutral in the home, and visually calm. In practice, families use what they have: tapers, tealights, or even oil candles in glass. What matters most is that the ritual feels respectful and sustainable—something you can actually keep doing, not something that adds stress to an already-busy Friday.
Common Shabbat candle types and typical burn times
Shabbat candles are often taper candles placed in candlesticks, though tea lights are common in smaller spaces. Burn time depends on the candle size and wax type, and the package usually lists hours. In everyday use, many taper candles are chosen because they comfortably last through dinner and the early evening, while tea lights typically last a few hours. If you want a longer burn without a tall taper, look for “long-burning” tea lights or votives and always pair them with a holder designed for that candle style.
Yahrzeit candles: a 24-hour flame for memory
Yahrzeit is the anniversary of a death (based on the Hebrew calendar), and many Jewish families mark it by lighting a special memorial candle at home. My Jewish Learning explains that yahrzeit is observed in the synagogue with prayers such as Mourner’s Kaddish and in many communities with memorial plaques, while at home many people light a candle. The candle is often called a “ner neshamah,” a candle for the soul, and it is meant to burn for a full day.
The Shiva.com guidance is especially clear for beginners: a yahrzeit candle is typically lit at sundown and is designed to burn for 24 hours. That detail matters because Jewish days begin at sundown, so families often light the candle the evening before the calendar anniversary in order to cover the full day. In other words, the “start” of yahrzeit observance can look like lighting a candle at sunset, letting it burn safely through the night and into the next day, then allowing it to go out on its own.
Chabad’s overview, Chabad.org, also emphasizes that customs vary—some families keep a candle burning during shiva, and many light one each year on yahrzeit and at certain communal memorial moments. The thread running through all of it is simple: the flame becomes a steady companion to remembrance.
If you are looking for the keyword answer in plain language, here it is: candle burn time 24 hour is the common expectation for a yahrzeit candle, because it is meant to last the full day of remembrance. Some candles may burn slightly longer or shorter depending on brand, airflow, and wax composition, so it’s wise to set it up safely and assume it should be monitored like any open flame.
What white can mean in this context
People often ask about white candle meaning in Jewish practice. While symbolism can be interpreted differently across communities, many families gravitate toward white because it feels humble and uncluttered—especially for memorial observances, where the goal is not decoration but attention. White also fits easily into a home ritual without pulling focus away from the person being remembered. If your family already has a custom—white candles only, or a specific style of candleholder—following that familiar pattern can be its own kind of comfort.
How families incorporate candle rituals at home
Some homes keep the ritual minimal: two Shabbat candles in simple holders on Friday night, and a yahrzeit candle in a glass container on a shelf on the anniversary. Other families create a small remembrance corner—a place where a candle, a photo, and a few personal objects can sit without needing to be hidden. If you’re building that kind of space, Funeral.com’s guide Home Memorial Corners and Altars offers gentle ideas for keeping it meaningful without making it feel heavy or permanent.
For some families, candlelight becomes part of broader funeral planning and long-term memorial choices, especially when loved ones live far apart and want a shared ritual. That might mean lighting candles together over a video call on yahrzeit, or choosing a single weekly moment—like the “Monday candle” idea in Creating a Ritual: Lighting a Candle Every Monday—as a way to give grief a gentle rhythm.
It’s also normal for families to blend practices, especially in interfaith or mixed-observance households. A Jewish partner may keep Shabbat candles while the broader family participates in a memorial candle ritual on anniversaries. The goal is not perfection; it’s respect, safety, and sincerity.
A note about memorial objects, cremation, and keeping ashes at home
Jewish tradition has a long-standing preference for burial, and many families will speak with a rabbi when planning end-of-life choices. At the same time, modern families sometimes find themselves navigating cremation decisions for personal, financial, or logistical reasons. On the broader American landscape, cremation is now the majority choice: the National Funeral Directors Association reports a projected U.S. cremation rate of 63.4% for 2025, and the Cremation Association of North America reports a 2024 U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% with continued growth projected. Those numbers don’t tell any one family what to do, but they do explain why so many people are searching for practical guidance at the same time they’re trying to honor faith and conscience.
If cremation is part of your story—whether for a person or a pet—candle rituals can still be a meaningful anchor. A yahrzeit candle can sit beside a photo, a note, or any object that helps you remember. Some families who keep remains at home create a small memorial shelf that includes a candle and a secure vessel. Funeral.com’s guide on keeping ashes at home can help you think through placement, household comfort levels, and safety: Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally.
When families do choose cremation, the “container” decisions can be surprisingly emotional. If you’re exploring options, Funeral.com’s collections for cremation urns and cremation urns for ashes are gathered here: Cremation Urns for Ashes. If you know your memorial space will be compact, small cremation urns can feel less overwhelming: Small Cremation Urns for Ashes. And if multiple relatives want a personal way to hold remembrance, keepsake urns are designed for sharing a small portion: Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes.
Pets matter here, too. Many families naturally weave candlelight into pet remembrance—especially on adoption days, birthdays, or the day a companion died. If you’re looking for pet urns and pet urns for ashes, Funeral.com’s collection of pet cremation urns starts here: Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes. For art-forward styles, there are Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes, and for sharing, Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes.
If you’re wondering about other choices—like scattering or water burial—Funeral.com’s guide Understanding What Happens During a Water Burial Ceremony walks through what families can expect. And if cost questions are pressing (which is normal), this guide addresses how much does cremation cost in clear terms: How Much Does Cremation Cost? Average Prices and Budget-Friendly Options. These decisions connect to the very human question underneath: what to do with ashes in a way that feels respectful and livable.
For some people, remembrance becomes wearable. If that resonates, cremation jewelry—including cremation necklaces—can be a discreet way to keep someone close: Cremation Jewelry and Cremation Necklaces. For a gentle overview, see Cremation Jewelry 101.
Shopping guide: unscented white candles and safe holders
If you want the practical version of buy shabbat candles without getting overwhelmed, focus on three things: simplicity, safety, and consistency. Candles that look “right” but drip heavily, burn too fast, or wobble in the holder can create stress that works against the ritual. Unscented options are often the easiest choice for shared spaces and sensitive noses, and because they keep the focus on the moment rather than the fragrance.
What to look for when shopping
When you’re choosing unscented white candles, start with the purpose and match the candle to the ritual. For Shabbat, many families choose tapers that fit standard holders, or tea lights if the space is small; whichever you use, prioritize a steady, even burn and a shape that sits securely. For yahrzeit, look specifically for a 24-hour memorial candle (often in glass or a tin cup) that is designed for candle burn time 24 hour use, because the intention is a full day of remembrance rather than a short moment. For candleholders for shabbat, weight matters: a heavier, well-balanced holder reduces tipping risk, and drip cups can prevent hot wax from spreading across the table. Finally, think about where the candle will live while it burns—on a nonflammable surface, away from curtains and paper, and out of reach of children and pets—so the ritual feels calm instead of stressful.
If open flame isn’t safe in your home, you are not “doing it wrong” by using an electric alternative. Safety is part of dignity. The Shiva.com guidance notes that an electric yahrzeit lamp can be permitted due to safety concerns. Many families choose electric options for overnight burning, apartment living, or homes with curious pets.
When you want candlelight built into a memorial keepsake
Some families prefer a single object that supports a ritual without extra setup. If you are building a memorial shelf, you might gravitate toward pieces that combine a secure keepsake compartment with candle-like light. For example, the Funeral.com keepsake urn Cream Glass Keepsake Urn with Candle Holder and Tree of Life Design is designed to glow with an integrated LED candle while holding a small portion of remains, and the pet-focused Pewter Mini Memory Light Small Pet Cremation Urn offers a tealight-style holder as part of the tribute. These are not for everyone, but for some families they create a gentle bridge between “I want to light something” and “I need the memorial to be safe and manageable.”
Bringing it all together with warmth and respect
If you’re new to these traditions, start small. Choose two simple candles for Shabbat. Choose one yahrzeit candle for a specific loved one. Let the ritual be a doorway, not a test. Over time, the home teaches you what you need: where the candles feel natural, who wants to participate, what feels comforting versus heavy, and how remembrance can exist alongside ordinary life.
And if you’re holding grief while also juggling decisions—burial or cremation, timing, costs, family dynamics—remember that a candle ritual can be one thing you can do right now, even when the rest is still unresolved. In that sense, candlelight is not only tradition. It’s care.
