During the summer months, when the sun sets late in the evening, it is common practice in many communities to daven Ma’ariv and begin Shabbos early, long before sunset. There are a number of halachic issues associated with this practice that require review and clarification.

IS IT “PROPER” TO BEGIN SHABBOS EARLY?

The idea of extending the Shabbos by ushering it in earlier than required has its roots in the Biblical mitzvah of tosefes Shabbos.(1) Indeed,as far back as the Rishonim Shabbos was ushered in early,(2)and the custom persisted in many European communities for centuries.(3) As we will explain, the poskim even permitted davening Ma’ariv before its proper time in order to begin Shabbos earlier. Many people feel that an early Shabbos enhances their oneg Shabbos and shalom bayis as it allows the family to enjoy the Shabbos meal at a reasonable hour and thus be imbued with the spirit of Shabbos.(4)

Nowadays, early Shabbos begins when the congregation recites mizmor shir l’yom ha-Shabbos in shul. Once that psalm is recited, it is considered as if Shabbos in all its aspects has begun even though it is still bright daylight outside.(5) Thus one may no longer daven the Friday Minchah,(6) but instead, he may daven Shabbos Ma’ariv, recite Kiddush and eat the Shabbos meal.(7) Obviously, he may no longer transgress any of the forbidden Shabbos Labors, neither Biblical nor Rabbinic.(8) It is permitted, however, to instruct a non-Jew – or even another Jew who has not yet begun Shabbos – to do a forbidden Shabbos Labor on his behalf.(9)

Women accept Shabbos when they light the Shabbos candles at home. L’chatchilah, they should daven the Friday Minchah before lighting candles,(10 ) but b’diavad they may rely on the poskim who permit women to daven Minchah even after lighting candles.(11) Note: Starting Shabbos early means that one accepts upon himself the sanctity and all of the halachos of Shabbos; it does not necessarily mean that it is no longer Friday and the calendar day of Shabbos has begun. Therefore:

1. The Friday evening Kerias Shema, which was recited during Ma’ariv, must be repeated at home after tzeis ha-kochavim, since the evening Kerias Shema is invalid if recited before nightfall.(12)
2. The Shabbos Sefiras ha-Omer should not be counted until night falls, (13) so one should count the omer at home after tzeis ha-kochavim. B’diavad, though, some poskim hold that if the omer was counted before nightfall, it is a valid count, and the counting may continue on the following days with a blessing.(14)
3. B’diavad, Friday’s Sefiras ha-Omer may be counted [without a blessing] after davening Ma’ariv on Friday night, if it is not yet sunset.(15)
4. A woman who failed to make her hefsek taharah before ushering in the Shabbos may, b’diavad, do so until sunset.(16)
5. A baby born on Friday evening before sunset but after the parents began Shabbos, will still have his bris the following Friday morning. His bar mitzvah, and a girl’s bas mitzvah, will be based on their Friday birth date.
6. The yahrtzeit of a parent who died on Friday before sunset but after Shabbos was begun, will be held on the Hebrew date of that Friday.(17)

HOW EARLY MAY SHABBOS BEGIN?

Early Shabbos may begin at any time after plag ha-minchah. Shabbos candles which were mistakenly lit before plag ha-minchah are not valid even b’diavad;(18)they must be extinguished and rekindled, and the proper blessing repeated.(19)One who davened Ma’ariv before plag ha-minchah must repeat his Ma’ariv.(20)

WHEN IS PLAG HA-MINCHAH?

While it is agreed upon that plag ha-minchah takes place one and a quarter seasonal – a seasonal hour is one twelfth of the day – hours before the end of the day, there is disagreement as to what exactly is considered “day.” Some poskim(21)maintain that the day begins at alos ha-shachar and ends at tzeis ha-kochavim. Plag ha-minchah, then, is an hour and a quarter before tzeis ha-kochavim.(22)But others(23)hold that “day” begins at sunrise and ends at sunset, which makes plag ha-minchah an hour and a quarter before sunset. Most calendars and luchos have adopted the second opinion as basic halachah,(24)and this is the custom today in many communities.(25)

HOW MAY ONE DAVEN MA’ARIV BEFORE SUNSET? ISN’T THIS THE TIME FOR MINCHAH?

On weekday nights, one should not daven Ma’ariv before sunset since this is the time designated for davening Minchah. Since each of the tefillos has its own time slot, davening Minchah and Ma’ariv during the same time period in the day is considered a “contradiction” which should be avoided. Still, on Friday night, most poskim permit davening Ma’ariv even before sunset, since by doing so we are gaining the benefit of extending the Shabbos.(26)But in order to avoid a direct contradiction with Minchah, the poskim suggest that Minchah be davened before plag ha- minchah and Ma’ariv after plag ha-minchah, thus retaining for each of the tefillos an exclusive time period. L’chatchilah, one should make every effort to follow this ruling.(27)For technical reasons, however, congregations sometimes find this time-frame difficult to adhere to, and they daven both Minchah and Ma’ariv after plag ha-minchah on Friday night. Some poskim have found grounds to justify this practice.(28)

IF A COMMUNITY OBSERVES THE EARLY SHABBOS MUST EACH INDIVIDUAL COMPLY WITH THE EARLIER ONSET OF SHABBOS?

Yes. In a small community, e.g., a Yeshiva, camp, hotel or bungalow colony that has only one congregation which ushers the Shabbos in early, all members of the community are obligated to begin Shabbos at that time. (29)But in communities which feature several congregations, some of which accept Shabbos early and others which do so on time, each household may join the congregation of its choice with the following provisions:

• An individual must accept the Shabbos at the time “his” congregation does. “His” congregation means the shul where he is planning to daven this Friday night.(30)An individual may rotate from week to week, sometimes beginning Shabbos early and sometimes on time.(31)
• Although an individual must refrain from transgressing any forbidden Shabbos labors once the community Shabbos begins, he may still privately(32 )daven the Friday Minchah.(33)
• A temporary or a permanent minyan which meets in a private home is not considered a separate congregation. Therefore, a private minyan may not make Shabbos on time if the rest of the community accepts Shabbos early. (34)
• Many poskim hold that if a husband accepts Shabbos early, his wife and children must do so as well.(35)Others hold that a wife and children may accept Shabbos whenever they wish regardless of when the husband or father began the Shabbos.(36)
• Poskim debate the status of a shul where the majority of the congregants wants to accept the Shabbos early and a minority wants to make a second minyan in the same shul which will begin Shabbos on time. Some authorities do not allow for such an arrangement,(37) while others are more lenient. (38)

WHAT IS THE RATIONALE FOR NOT BEGINNING SHABBOS EARLY?

Many communities, especially in Eretz Yisrael and in Chasidic circles, do not begin Shabbos early under any circumstances.(39)There are several halachic reasons for their stance. To name but a few: The opinion of the Gaon of Vilna(40)and other poskim, that even on Friday night Ma’ariv should be davened only(41)after tzeis ha-kochavim.(42) As stated earlier, there is a difference of opinion as to the exact time of plag ha-minchah. According to the first opinion quoted, plag ha-minchah is actually much later than the one which is published in most calendars. Thus a woman who lights candles after the earlier plag but before the later one, and men who daven Ma’ariv and recite Kiddush at that time, subject themselves to a possible brachah l’vatalah.(43)Some opinions hold that the Shabbos meal must be eaten on Shabbos proper, not on the extended part of Shabbos.(44) In addition to the basic rationale for starting Shabbos on time, there are a number of specific situations where some poskim recommend – as an extra stringency – that Shabbos not begin early. Among them:

• When Rosh Chodesh falls on Friday night, it is questionable whether or not yaaleh v’yavo can be said before Shabbos proper begins.(45)
• One who is commemorating a Shabbos yahrtzeit by reciting Kaddish and serving as the sheliach tzibbur, should do so on Shabbos proper and not on the extended period of Shabbos.(46)
• A bar-mitzvah boy who is turning thirteen on Shabbos should wait until he becomes a certified adult – which does not take place until Shabbos proper sets in – before reciting Kerias Shema and davening Ma’ariv.(47)

FOOTNOTES:

47 Minchas Yitzchak 10:17.

Weekly-Halacha, Text Copyright © 2004 by Rabbi Neustadt, Dr. Jeffrey Gross and Torah.org. Weekly sponsorships are available–please send email to the moderator, Dr. Jeffrey Gross [email protected].

Rabbi Neustadt is Rav of Young Israel in Cleveland Heights. He may be reached at 216-321-4635 or at [email protected].