This campaign was launched to encourage Jewish women and girls to bring the light of Shabbat into their home by fulfilling the mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles on Friday evening. In particular, the Rebbe campaigned to restore the age-old custom, dating back to the matriarch Rebecca, that young girls, too, should light their own candle (from the age of 3 years old).
In a time of increasing darkness, the Rebbe declared, we must respond with an increasing of light.
In the years since, the Rebbe's emissaries across the globe have distributed millions of Shabbat candle-lighting kits and have introduced countless thousands of Jewish women and girls -- and their families -- to the beauty and holiness of Shabbat.
Paula, who apparently is Jewish according to her profile on WikiPedia, being born to a Canadian Jewish mother of Russian & Ukranian decent and Syrian Jewish father, lights Shabbat candles every Friday night... Surprised as I am?
And all along we have been told she was Lebanese and Puerto Rican.
