Dear Friends,

This is Chaya Mushka, the adorable, spunky, spirited daughter of a dear cousin.

Several months ago, Chaya Mushka and her mother prepared for her third birthday. They bought birthday bags and hats, made a pretty cake and spoke about how Chaya Mushka would now be a big girl and light her own Shabbat candle. (It is customary for Jewish girls to begin lighting a single Shabbat candle at this age.) 

At her birthday party, Chaya complained that she didn’t feel well. Nothing could entice her–she looked listlessly at the cake and party favors. Within days, the doctors found a tumor and she was in emergency surgery.

Chaya is receiving the best care medicine has to offer. But it is not enough. She needs more. Since her third birthday, Chaya has not had the chance to light the Shabbat candles as the perfect, complete, healthy Jewish girl she should be.  Each Shabbat has been clouded with the knowledge that she would be back in the hospital shortly, undergoing torturous treatment in the hope that maybe it would banish her wretched illness.

What can we do? We can’t offer medical advice, give her back her 3rd birthday or change the past. But we can change the future. We can light a candle. We can light Shabbat candles in honor of Chaya Mushka and ask G-d that the spiritual energy created by our mitzvah be directed to Chaya Mushka. Jewish mysticism tells us of the unique connection between the physical and spiritual worlds and the everlasting power of every mitzvah.  We should not underestimate the power of our prayers and mitzvot.

Please join me: I am asking you to take on this mitzvah, or any other mitzvah, such as giving charity before candle lighting, wrapping the Tefillin, studying Torah, reciting a prayer or performing deeds of loving kindness, and perform it regularly, in honor of Chaya Mushka.   

And when you do, ask G-d to please, in the merit of all the mitzvot that we are doing in her honor, heal Chaya Mushka bas—daughter of—Chana so she may light her own candle in perfect health.

–Raizel

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Why A Mitzvah?
We live in an imperfect world. A beautiful girl named Chaya is sick. And our daily attempts to live good and meaningful lives are not always successful.

The world is not perfect, but we can make it more so. The Torah tells us that every mitzvah brings the world into greater harmony, makes the world a more perfect place. And when we do that mitzvah in honor of Chaya’s recovery, we direct that harmony to her, marshaling the spiritual energy generated by our act to make her more complete. 

Which Mitzvah?
Every single Mitzvah we do generates spiritual energy and adds light to the world. When we do that mitzvah in honor of Chaya Mushka, we ask G-d to direct that spiritual energy toward her recovery. If you already light Shabbat candles, there are so many other things you can do. You can ask others to light candles in Chaya’s honor. You can try to enhance your own candle lighting by being extra careful to light at the right time, or give charity before lighting. You can do acts of kindness, bake Challah, learn Torah, affix mezuzot—our options for mitzvot are limitless. 

Quick Step-by-Step Guide to Candle-Lighting
1. Check local candle lighting time in your area. 2. Prepare the candles, one if you’re single, two if you’re married, and a charity box along with some coins for charity. 3. Begin by remembering others less fortunate–give charity.  4. Now, light the candles. Draw your hands over the flames and toward yourself, bringing the peace and sanctity of Shabbat into your home and your life. 5. Cover your eyes to recite the blessing: Boruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bos Ko-desh (Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.). 6. Pray for whatever your heart desires. The time of candle lighting is an especially auspicious time for private prayer. Please remember to pray for a complete recovery for Chaya Mushka bat Chana. 7. Uncover your eyes and gaze at the Shabbat lights. Turn to your loved ones and wish them “Shabbat Shalom” or “Good Shabbos.” Embrace the light, peace and joy you have generated, and welcome the Shabbat into your home.