- Q. My elderly grandmother due to old age and disease lost her eyesight and can’t see at all, can my grandfather light the Shabbos candles and she should recite the blessings? It provides to her a tremendous great beautiful feeling and inspiration if she is able to say the blessing.
A. Mishna Berura (263: 14) quotes Magen Avrohom that a blind woman can light and recite the brocho since she also has benefit as others will see and help her. However, he maintains that her seeing husband should recite the brocho. Some opine that he should also light. Meoros Nossan is of the opinion that if she is in stress for not being able to do so, can both light and recite the blessing. (See Piskei Teshuvos ibid.)
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a recommended that the husband should hold her hand and help her light the candles with the brocho.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a.
Important Numbers
