Given his pyrophobia, it’s not all that surprising the candles are one of the few - and, from his point of view, agonisingly important - parts of Jewish tradition that Tyson tries to distance himself from as much as possible.
Some of his earlier memories are being afraid of the Shabbat candles lit by Ms Appleby, and - even though Tyson knows that it’s an entirely irrational fear that isn’t his fault - there is an inescapable feeling of guilt in Tyson about that.
His Jewishness is one of the most important things about Tyson, to Tyson; even though he’s rather non-observant in his faith. When he does or does not go to Synagogue, that’s an active choice that Tyson can make, but flinching away from Shabbat candles isn’t. It’s reflexive and it hurts him every time it happens.