When Renee Schwartz first told me about B’yachad Nadlik, a group Yael Wiesner organized with a challenge for women to light Shabbos candles on time as the clocks shifted earlier, I knew I had to learn more. It's hard to adjust to earlier Friday candle-lighting times. So if there are tips, tricks, recipes, and guidance on how to make it all work… I want in!

I sat down to talk with Yael about what sparked the idea, how the Shabbos prep challenge works, and why women from so many different communities are joining in. From practical tips to heartfelt stories, this is a look inside a movement that’s bringing accountability, encouragement, and a little bit of magic to every Friday.

What inspired you to start this Shabbos preparation campaign?

B’Yachad Nadlik actually started a few weeks  after the tragic events of Shabbos /  Shemini Atzeres / October 7th. The clocks had just changed, Shabbos was coming in really early, and everyone was talking about how we need to be mechazek Shabbos to bring a yeshuah. The theme everywhere was B’yachad Nenatzeach  and from there, the name B’yachad Nadlik — “Together we’ll light” just clicked.

I started a 30 day challenge for the first month on the new clock and opened both a WhatsApp group and a Google group to help women light in time. Each day the women post one small thing they’re doing to get ready for Shabbos, plus tips, personal insights and easy recipes to help each other light on time. Friday mornings at 10:00 I close the group so no one’s still on their phone instead of preparing.  On Motzaei Shabbos everyone writes what time they lit. If you lit at the time listed on your neighborhood calendar, you get entered into a raffle for a free Home Management Workshop!

Women joined from around the world. The group has made everyone be accountable to do something DAILY for Shabbos!  And reading what other people have done is so encouraging! The ideas that come up are amazing and the determination of these women week after week is honestly so inspiring. You must join us here!

How has your own experience with Shabbos influenced the tips you give to families?

The truth is, most of the tips in the group aren’t from me at all and that’s what makes it so special! I’m not teaching anyone how to make Shabbos “the right way.” There is no right way. You have to do what works for you. 

In the group we share real-life scenarios. What worked, what didn’t, and the little wins that made a difference. We’re all figuring this out together.

Personally, I always pretend that Wednesday is Thursday and Thursday is Friday. That mental shift helps me get everything done earlier and keeps Fridays so much calmer. 

It also clears out my schedule and allows me to make challah on Friday, which is important to me.

With Shabbos starting earlier now, what are the biggest challenges families face?

If you've figured out how to start cooking before Friday, then I think it's mostly the little things that add up. Getting everyone showered on time, trying to squeeze in “just one more dish,” or cutting down the menu without feeling guilty are all big struggles. Then of course there’s keeping the kids fed and keeping them entertained on Friday. Shabbos isn’t only about cooking, it’s the table setting, clothes, tidying, and all the small details that take more time than we expect. Many women also find it hard to let go of perfection, like insisting everything be freshly made, and end up doing unrelated chores on Friday, like “just one load of laundry” that throw off the whole flow.

What are your top three tips for making Shabbos preparation easier and less stressful?

I’m going to say four because they really all work together:

1. Always have ingredients handy. You never know when you'll find extra time to cook. Either set a fixed shopping day early in the week, or plan well enough that when you’re out shopping on Thursday or Friday, you’re already buying for the next week. It saves so much stress and prevents those “oops, we’re out of eggs” moments.

2. Do advance preparation. Stock your freezer with things that freeze well. Soups, kugels, dips. And do your prep work earlier in the week for the dishes you want to cook fresh on Friday. Fry onions, soak beans, spice your meat, or bread schnitzel. That way, on Friday you’re just popping things into the oven or onto the fire, not starting from scratch.

3. Let go of perfection. Redefine kavod Shabbos. It’s not about seven salads or fancy food. It’s about a calm atmosphere, good middos, and a happy mommy.

4. Stay on top of weekday tasks. When laundry and dishes are done regularly and the house is maintained throughout the week, there’s no Friday panic to “catch up.” 

Are there common mistakes people make when trying to get everything ready on time?

Definitely! The biggest mistake is underestimating how long things actually take and how many little details are realistically involved in being truly ready for Shabbos. Things like setting up the Shabbos clocks, preparing the candles, putting up the blech, opening tissues and grape juice bottles, putting on makeup, or straightening up the bathroom after all the showers (some of these don’t even make it onto most people’s lists). Yet somehow, they all end up happening in those last 20 minutes before licht bentching… or 20 minutes after...

Do you have strategies for involving children in the preparation?

Yes, the key is to create doable, clearly defined jobs with a clear end in sight. Tasks that actually give your kids a sense of satisfaction. No one wants to dig a mommy out of her overwhelm… They want to make Shabbos! Ask your kids what their preferences are and give them choices. Some might enjoy entertaining the younger ones, while others prefer making a salad, baking a cake, setting the table, or putting away the last load of laundry. A bit of music in the background and a special “Mommy’s Helper” treat can make it even more fun and motivating. When kids enjoy the process and see results, they take real ownership and the whole house feels good about Shabbos preparations.

Are there organizational tools or methods you swear by to stay on track?

I wouldn’t call it a tool, it’s more like a rule I live by: no machines on Friday.

That means the mixer, food processor, and washing machine all get the day off. Following that rule automatically structures your week. It pushes you to get those messy jobs done earlier. By Friday, you’re just doing the calm, hands-on finishing touches.

My second tip is to pinpoint the things that always seem to get pushed to the last minute and make a conscious effort to get them done earlier. Once you identify those repeat offenders, your Fridays instantly feel lighter and more under control.

Are there shortcuts or time-saving tricks that don’t compromise the beauty and sanctity of Shabbos?

I don’t believe that any time-saving tricks compromise the sanctity of Shabbos. In fact, I think it’s unfortunate that so many women feel they need to make fancy, complicated recipes or decorate their tables with fancy accessories to be mechabed Shabbos. Somewhere along the way, it turned into pressure instead of pleasure.

True kavod Shabbos in my opinion, isn’t about how elaborate things look. It’s about creating a calm, happy atmosphere where everyone can experience Shabbos in the right atmosphere. 

Any shortcut that helps you to light on time is certainly a kavod to Shabbos!

How do you suggest families handle unexpected disruptions or delays?

Expect them. They’re bound to happen so the best thing you can do is plan for them. Don’t schedule your tasks down to the last minute; leave a little breathing room in your Friday plan. And always keep a few backup items in the freezer. A soup, kugel, or challah. So if things don’t go as planned, you can still get to Shabbos with your sanity intact.

What are your go-to easy recipes for busy weeks?

All weeks are busy, aren’t they? That’s exactly why we put together a group cookbook called B’Yachad Nadlik: Easy Shmeezy Recipes.

When food is made with love, it’s always delicious. It doesn’t have to be complicated with a lot of steps, pots and mixing bowls. This unprofessional but very real recipe collection is filled with dishes that are:

- Delicious

- One-bowl

- Minimal steps

- Made with easy-to-find ingredients

See the cookbook HERE and feel free to share it with your readers!

Do you have advice for couples on dividing tasks so everyone contributes smoothly?

Yes. Everyone should do what they’re good at. It doesn’t have to be even, it just has to work. When each person takes on the tasks that come naturally to them, things get done faster, there’s less tension, and Shabbos prep flows.

What would you say to someone who feels completely overwhelmed by Shabbos prep?

Like with any difficult situation, start by davening for siyata dishmaya. Then, simplify your Shabbos as much as you can. Look for shortcuts wherever possible. Buy challah, salads, kugels, and dessert, hire a babysitter for a few hours, and simply cook less. Shabbos doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful. Also recognize that overwhelm comes in waves; it's not forever. Just because this month is hard and you need to buy more ready-made food doesn’t mean you’ve made a lifetime decision. Do what’s right for the stage you’re in. And finally, spread out the work. Do small things throughout the week that make a big difference like preparing the Shabbos clothes on Motzaei Shabbos or cleaning the bedrooms on another day. Not everything needs to be done for Shabbos. 

How do you balance cooking, cleaning, and other responsibilities during the week leading up to Shabbos?

This is a much larger topic that really can’t be done justice here. That’s actually what my 12-week Home Management Workshop is all about! We just started a new round on Motzei Shabbos, November 8th, where we go step by step through how to set up your home correctly from the bottom up. The women who go through this process find that Shabbos prep becomes calmer, smoother, and they’re naturally lighting on time without the last-minute rush.

I’m happy to offer Kosher.com readers a special 50% discount to join HERE: