Objects

The frame depicts the moment of Shabbat celebration by a London Hasidic family - the moment just after the wife lights the candles. Jews begin the Sabbath by lighting and blessing candles which are a source of light used exclusively for ceremonial purposes. These activities are part of the women's religious duties - most often two candles are lit, but sometimes the number of candles corresponds to the number of children present in the family or the number of all household members. Candles also have metaphysical symbolism - they signify the divine light and the human soul. The Shabbat dinner held every Friday night is a festive time, which the family emphasises with appropriate attire and special tableware. It is one of the three ceremonial meals of Shabbat - Friday dinner, lunch on Saturday, after morning prayer, and seudat shlishit ('third meal' in Hebrew, Yiddish: sudashlishis) before it ends on Saturday evening.

MBK, AW