Candlesticks

Frequently Asked Questions

Most households light two candles on Friday evening before sunset, which is why Shabbat candlesticks are usually sold in pairs. The two candles are commonly explained as corresponding to "remember" and "observe" the Sabbath. Some families follow the custom of adding one candle for each child, so candelabra-style pieces with extra branches exist for exactly that reason.

Shabbat candlesticks hold one or two candles and are lit every Friday evening; a Chanukah menorah has nine branches and is used only during the eight nights of Chanukah. They're separate items with separate uses — though this collection includes a convertible sterling silver piece designed to serve as both.

Yes — candlesticks are one of the most traditional Jewish wedding gifts, because the couple will use them weekly for years. This collection includes a sterling silver pair with a wedding glass stem and "Ani LeDodi" engraving made specifically for that occasion. A pair of candlesticks also works well combined with a kiddush cup as a fuller gift set.

Choose sterling silver if you want a traditional heirloom that can be polished and passed down; choose crystal or glass if you prefer a lighter, more contemporary look with simpler upkeep. Silver requires occasional polishing to manage tarnish, while crystal only needs careful hand-washing. Both are made for weekly use, so it's genuinely a matter of taste and budget.

You can't stop tarnish entirely — it's a natural reaction between silver and the air — but you can slow it down. Store the candlesticks in a dry spot away from humidity, and polish them occasionally with a silver-safe polish. Regular use plus a light polish now and then is usually all a pair needs to stay bright.

Shabbat candlestick pricing follows the material: hand-painted ceramic and glass pairs anchor the entry level, crystal and hammered-metal designs fill the middle of the range, and sterling silver pieces — including a triple candlestick — sit at the top. Current prices are listed on each pair, and there are solid options at every point in that spread.