Can I light a match from an existing flame?

amother

Thu, Apr 04 2024, 10:55 pm

I’m terrible at lighting matches and it is so embarrassing whenever I am a guest at someone’s house. Anyone know if its halachically allowed for me to use the flame from my host’s candles to light my match, then use that match to light my candles?

amother

Cherry ↓

Thu, Apr 04 2024, 11:08 pm

amother OP wrote:

You can’t use it to light a match. You are allowed to use it to light one of your shabbos candles and then use that candle to light your other candle. But it can’t be used for a separate candle or match that isn’t being used for shabbos

amother

Coffee

Thu, Apr 04 2024, 11:10 pm

If you're feeling brave, take a big piece of foil and a big box of matches. Practice striking them and dropping the match right away. It's a learned skill and you can definitely acquire it!

By the time you finish the box you'll be much more experienced.

amother

Hotpink

Thu, Apr 04 2024, 11:58 pm

The two main candles are tzorchei mitzva and you're not allowed to use them to light something else. If they light more than two, most people hold that the extra candles you are allowed to use.

amother

Taupe ↓

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 12:00 am

You shouldn't even take from your own lit candles. (if your match dies out in middle of lighting)

amother

Stonewash ↓

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 12:49 am

Can one light a match from a yortzeit candle we leave on for exactly this reason? I always feel like I'm doing something wrong by lighting a match and then lighting my candles with this match.

Reality ↓

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 12:56 am

It's not lighting the match from an existing flame that is a problem, it's extinguishing it. As long as you don't blow the match out, it is ok. Place the lit match some place safe and it will die out on it's own.

amother

↑ Stonewash

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 1:55 am

Reality wrote:

Right, I don't blow it out. Thanks.

amother

↑ Taupe

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 2:01 am

Reality wrote:

It can both be a problem. The problem with OPs questions is not that it's an existing flame. The problem is if the existing flame is someone's Shabbos candles (or your own) That's not ok. A yahrtzeit candle is ok to take from.

amother

Gardenia

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 2:11 am

To my knowledge, you can light from an existing flame before your host said the brocha. Once they said a brocha on the candles you cannot light from that flame

B'Syata D'Shmya

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 2:16 am

seeker wrote:

Just use a lighter. I haven't bothered with matches in ages.

This! Def makes lighting more elegant and L'chvod Shabbos Kodesh.

↑ Reality ↓

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 2:21 am

amother Taupe wrote:

It may be better not to but I don't think it's assur like taking from the light of a menorah.

Hashem_Yaazor ↓

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 7:37 am

I once asked a rav about this.
You're not supposed to take from one of your shabbos candles which is used for a mitzvah to light something that doesn't have kedushah (like the match), but to transfer the flame from one candle to another is fine. You can use a lit candle to light the other candles.

Last edited by Hashem_Yaazor on Fri, Apr 05 2024, 8:33 am; edited 1 time in total

amother

Papayawhip

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 8:04 am

seeker wrote:

Just use a lighter. I haven't bothered with matches in ages.

Doesn't help when you're at someone else's house and they only have matches available.

amother

↑ Cherry

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 8:42 am

Reality wrote:

That’s a separate question, but it’s assur to use shabbos flames to light a match

↑ Reality ↓

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 8:59 am

amother Cherry wrote:

That’s a separate question, but it’s assur to use shabbos flames to light a match

I never learned it's assur. Do you know where it says that please?

↑ Reality

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 9:03 am

Hashem_Yaazor wrote:

Even if you are using the match for a mitzvah? I understand if you want to light your stove top it's wrong.

Also, did the Rav say it's assur like the previous poster did? That is very strong language. Something being not best practice is not the same as assur.

↑ Hashem_Yaazor

Fri, Apr 05 2024, 1:39 pm

Reality wrote:

No, it's not assur, but it's not proper.
There are different levels of tasmishei kedushah. The candles themselves are the mitzvah, the match is a helper.