“ויבאה יצחק האהלה שרה אמו” )כד:סז (

Rashi comments on the pasuk “Into his mothers, Sarah’s tent”

He explains that when Rivka was brought into the tent of Sarah, she had become exactly like Yitzchak’s mother, Sarah.  That is to say, the words signify as much as, and behold, she was Sarah. 

The miracles of Sarah return. 

For while Sarah was living, a light had been burning in the tent from one Shabbat eve to the next. There was always a blessing in the dough (a miraculous increase) and a cloud was always hanging over the tent (as a Divine protection), but since her death all these had stopped.
 
Although Avraham lit the Shabbat candles after Sarah passed away, his candles did not remain lit throughout the week. When Rivkah moves in and becomes family, her candles continued to burn miraculously the whole week like her late mother in law’s.

According to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, this demonstrates the unique ability of Jewish women and girls, who are all daughters of Sarah and Rivkah, to influence the spiritual character of the home. We can light up our homes on Erev Shabbat and have that Holiness last throughout the following week.

We might have the intention of Shalom Bayit, peace etc. while lighting our Shabbat candles and reflect and aim for that inner peace throughout Shabbat. The residue is still there even when the flame of Havdalah is lit.

We might meditate on Geulah and healing when lighting. We are bringing the potential for more of what we wish for to land in our homes and even have that light spread beyond our walls.

 Even though our physical candles burn out naturally and are no longer visible, their spiritual illumination continues throughout the week.  

Shabbat shalom,