WHY DO WE LIGHT A CANDLE?
Lighting the candle is an act of honor. It keeps the memory of the person alive and creates a quiet moment for reflection. It invites stillness, prayer, or meditation; allowing space to reflect on the legacy of your loved one. Judaism teaches that remembrance is active, not passive. A memorial candle is lit as a symbolic act of that remembrance; in essence to say: “You are remembered. You mattered. Your light remains.”
Rather than expecting grief to dissipate over the passage of time, Judaism provides a ritual that allows mourners to return to remembrance again and again. Not only a way of honoring a departed loved one, it is established as a ritual for the living.