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Unlit Birthday Candles as a Cake Decoration on Shabbat

Question

Am I allowed to use birthday candles on Shabbat as a cake decoration, without actually lighting them?

Answer

Find a different decoration instead of birthday candles on Shabbat.

Sources

The Arukh HaShulchan explains that the earlier rulings about moving a candle on Shabbat dealt with ancient lamps, which were ordinary vessels that only became muktzeh once lit. Our candles are different. They are fit for no use except lighting, so they are a kli shemelachto le’issur that has no permitted use at all. They are therefore fully muktzeh even if they were never lit. He adds that people make mistakes about this, and concludes that our candles may never be moved on Shabbat. Since birthday candles cannot be handled on Shabbat even unlit, one should find a different decoration.

  • Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 279:1 — our candles are only fit for lighting, so they are complete muktzeh even when never lit, and are always forbidden to move on Shabbat

Author

Rabbi Shay Tahan

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