The Writing Contest that the Rebbe Initiated

Fifty years ago, the Rebbe launched Mivtza Neshek, a campaign that inspired millions of Jewish women and girls to light Shabbos candles. One initiative was a writing contest encouraging girls to share their experiences, culminating in a book of their letters and photos. Anash.org presents the fascinating story and a full copy of that book.

By Anash.org writer

Fifty years ago, the Rebbe launched Mivtza Neshek – a campaign that would go on to transform Jewish life, with millions of Jewish women and girls around the world beginning to light Shabbos candles.

The Rebbe was deeply involved in every detail of the initiative, guiding its development step by step and pushing it with unrelenting urgency. The Rebbe delivered surprise sichos and farbrengens, edited and re-edited brochures, magazines, and bumper stickers – some distributed in the millions – and even personally designed a special candlestick that was given out on a massive scale. 

The campaign included radio ads, television programs, high-profile ads in major newspapers like The New York Times, and even a helicopter flying a banner overhead – most of which was with the Rebbe’s direct involvement and meticulous attention to detail.

The Rebbe also gave generously from his own funds to support the initiative, including giving two dimes to every woman or girl who took on the mitzvah of lighting candles.

One particularly fascinating idea the Rebbe suggested was to hold a writing contest, encouraging girls to share their personal experiences with lighting Shabbos candles, and then publishing a book of their letters along with photos.

In the winter of 5737, after Mrs. Esther Sternberg submitted a weekly report to the Rebbe, including letters and feedback submitted, she received a note from the Rebbe:

כדאי הי‘ להדפיס קובץ מכ’[תבים] כאלו (מכמה בי“ס) אחדים מכל סוג (בדתיות() ופוטוסטאט ממקצתם. בצירוף תמונות. וכו‘. ובהידור

It would be ideal to publish a booklet of letters such as these (from many schools), several from each level (of observance), with images of some of the [letters], together with photos, etc. [the book should be] well-designed.

The Rebbe also instructed her to launch a writing contest with prizes and incentives, urging Jewish girls to write about their personal experiences and reactions to lighting their own Shabbos candle. Jewish schools around the world were notified immediately, and soon a steady stream of letters began to arrive. A review panel was formed to select the best entries for publication, with the Rebbe remaining deeply involved throughout the process.

The Rebbe further instructed that foreign-language letters be printed in their original language alongside a translation. Around Purim, another note arrived:

אולי לערוך התחרות בזה מה טוב שיוכלו לחלקו בהקדם – ע”כ פנים לא יאוחר מערב שבת הגדול שהוא ערב חג הפסח. אעה”צ

Perhaps a competition should be arranged — ideally in a way that it can be distributed as soon as possible — no later than Erev Shabbos Hagadol, which is [also] Erev Pesach [this year]. I will mention this at the Ohel.

With that, the pace intensified — closing the contest, selecting submissions, and designing and publishing the book — all within one month. True to the Rebbe’s instructions, the book A Candle of My Own was published in time for Shabbos Hagadol and was widely successful.

Two years later, in the summer of 5739, the Rebbe sent another unexpected note:

איה חוברת השניה דמאמרי הבנות שתחיו, עכ”פ הפצתו לא יאוחר מערב ר”ה הבעל”ט

Where is the second booklet of the essays of the girls shetichyu? Its distribution should be no later than Rosh Hashana.

A second volume was then produced – even more beautiful than the first – with thousands of new participants. When a proposal suggested a cover image of a girl gazing at Shabbos candles in wonder, the Rebbe firmly emphasized that the campaign’s focus was on action, not wonder. As a result, the cover depicted a girl lighting the candles.

The 5737 album “A Candle of My Own” includes a sampling of the poems and compositions submitted by Jewish girls across the United States and Canada for the 5737 Composition Contest. It also included art by Lubavitcher artist Michoel Muchnik.

From the forward to the book:

“This book has been compiled to tell the story of the Shabbos candles “from the other side “, that is to say, from the point of view of the girls who light them.

“In these compositions sent in by girls from all corners of the land, we can glimpse the wonder and the beauty of this special moment, when, as one girl writes, “I will uncover my eyes, and it will be Shabbos.”

“One cannot read these compositions without being moved, at every point one sees the goodness of these pure-minded children, … their feelings of closeness to and understanding of Mother and Bubba … We overhear their whispered hopes, their prayers for health and peace … the feeling of being very close to Hashem at a time He has especially set aside for them…”