May I use a Shabbos or Yom Tov candle as a pre-existing flame?

May I use a Shabbos or Yom Tov candle as a pre-existing flame?

Once Yom Tov has begun it is prohibited to light a new fire (by striking a match or turning on a gas stove), so we must light Shabbos or Yom Tov candles from a pre-existing flame. Even on a weekday, when striking a match is permitted, it is sometimes simpler to light a candle from another that has already been kindled. May a woman light her candles from the Shabbos or Yom Tov candles that are already lit? 

A married woman often lights additional candles, besides the requisite two. There may be an issue with her lighting candles numbers three, four, five (and so on) from a candle that had been kindled for Shabbos or Yom Tov. The original one or two candles attain a higher level of sanctity by fulfilling the essential mitzvah; lighting “extra” candles is a minhag (custom) and has a lower status. The halachic premise is: “Ma’alin bakodesh v’ein moridin” (we ascend in holiness, but do not descend)—in this case, utilizing a holy object (the mitzvah-candle) for a purpose that is less holy (lighting the additional candles).

Nevertheless, most poskim have deemed it permissible to light additional candles from the existing mitzvah-candle.

An unmarried girl, who lights a single candle may use another single lit candle to kindle her own, according to all opinions. This is the case even if the girl is pre-Bas-Mitzvah.

Lighting a match (even one that will be used to light Shabbos or Yom Tov candles) from a candle used for the mitzvah is not appropriate, since it has no inherent holiness, and its use is degrading to the mitzvah-candle. Similarly, the gas fire should not be lit from the Yom Tov candles, except if it is the only pre-existing flame available. Certainly, a cigarette should not be ignited from the holy light of the Shabbos or Yom Tov candles. #621

https://halacha2go.com?number=621

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.