Why Do Women Cover Their Eyes During Shabbat Blessings?

If you've ever attended a Shabbat dinner, you may have noticed the blessing is done by a woman and her eyes are almost always covered. ⁠

Why is this?

The lighting of the candles are recitation of the blessing are performed by a woman because in Jewish tradition, it is believed the woman sets the tone of spirituality in the home. She is (in Jewish tradition) [often] home more and involved in the running of the house.⁠

She covers her eyes while reciting the Shabbat blessing because it is believed that a blessing must precede the performance of a mitzvah (good deed), and not the reverse.⁠

It is said that a mitzvah is only completed when one has derived benefit and enjoyment from it.⁠

So because of this, a Jewish woman immediately covers her eyes after having lit the candles in order to avoid "benefiting" from the light of the candles . . . until she has recited the Shabbat blessing.⁠

Hence, the logic is that the blessing over the Shabbat candles is considered to be completed before the completion of the mitzvah (lighting the candles), even though the candles ARE technically lit before the blessing. ⁠

After the blessing is recited the woman removes her hands so she can enjoy and "benefit" from the light of the candles.⁠

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Our purpose in sharing these tidbits is not to imply that these traditions have to be followed by believers in Jesus/Messianic Jews, but in order to help others better learn about and understand their Jewish neighbors and friends so that they can better build bridges and connections with them.