The Lighting of Candles is important to Jewish Life:
The Concept of Lighting Shabbat Candles is not in Torah. The idea of not Kindling Fire is…

לֹא־תְ בַ עֲר֣ ּו אֵֵ֔ ׁש בְ כֹֹ֖ ל מֹׁשְ בֹֹֽ תֵ יכ ֶ֑ם בְ יֹֹ֖ום הַ שַ ב ֹֽ ת׃

You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the sabbath day.
(Exodus 35:3)

Candles and Shabbat:

In continuation of the previous mishna, this mishna adds that one may not light with burnt oil on a Festival, as the Gemara will explain below. With regard to lighting Shabbat lamps, there were Sages who prohibited the use of specific oils. Rabbi Yishmael says that one may not light with tar [itran] in deference to Shabbat because tar smells bad and disturbs those in the house. And the Rabbis permit lighting with all oils for lamps as long as they burn properly; with sesame oil, with nut oil, with turnip oil, with fish oil, with gourd oil, with tar, and even with naphtha [neft]. Rabbi Tarfon says: One may light only with olive oil in deference to Shabbat, as it is the choicest and most pleasant of the oils. (Mishnah Shabbat 2:2)

• Why do you think that not lighting fire on Shabbat is a thing?
• Does the scent of a candle change your connection to the holiday or the ritual?
• Do you think this could also mean different candle colors or shapes?

Candles for Passover and Havdalah

To what are the righteous comparable before the Divine Presence? They are comparable to a lamp in the face of a torch. This statement indicates that the light of a torch is significantly greater than that of a lamp, and consequently a torch should be more effective in the search for leaven. And likewise Rava said: One who uses a torch for the blessing over fire in havdala has performed the mitzva in the optimal manner. Apparently, the light of a torch is greater than that of a lamp. (Pesachim 8a:4)

• What’s the difference between lamps and torches?
• Why do you think having a torch is better?
• How do you use candles for Passover?
• What other traditions do you have for candles/fire for Havdalah?

Candles and Hanukkah

The Sages taught in a baraita: The basic mitzva of Hanukkah is each day to have a light kindled by a person, the head of the household, for themselves and their household. And the mehadrin, i.e., those who are meticulous in the performance of mitzvot, kindle a light for each and every one in the household. And the mehadrin min hamehadrin, who are even more meticulous, adjust the number of lights daily. Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagree as to the nature of that adjustment. Beit Shammai say: On the first day one kindles eight lights and, from there on, gradually decreases the number of lights until, on the last day of Hanukkah, they kindle one light. And Beit Hillel say: On the first day one kindles one light, and from there on, gradually increases the number of lights until, on the last day, one kindles eight lights. (Shabbat 21b:5)

• Does the type of candle you use for Hanukkah matter?
• Which is seemingly more important, the Hanukkah menorah, or the candles?
• What do you think about using decorative candles for ritual purposes?
• Do you agree with the sages that the head of the household should be the one to light? What if there is no head of household?
• Do you associate different candles with different holidays or traditions? What if you only have birthday candles, would you use them for Shabbat, Havdalah or Hanukkah?

Candle as the Eternal Light:

You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly. (Ex 27:20)