I am very excited for the opportunity to share words of Torah with you. Each week, in this spot, I look to share an idea I've found that speaks to me and that I think will resonate with you as well. This week, I share something a little different based on the timing of Tefillah on Friday night at this time of year. Here is an excerpt from an article by Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld entitled ‘Mincha and Ma’ariv Together; Earliest time for Ma’ariv', about the timing for Mincha and Maariv.
Mincha is the afternoon prayer which corresponds to the afternoon daily burnt offering brought in the Temple (Tamid shel bein ha’arbayim). Ma’ariv (or Arvit) is the evening prayer. It contains two major components – Shema and Shemoneh Esrei. Shema is recited as fulfillment of the obligation to recite the Shema both at day and at night (see Deut. 6:7 & 11:19). The Shemoneh Esrei said at night corresponds to a different aspect of the Temple service – the burning of the “leftover” portions of the day’s sacrifices which had not been offered in the day. Interestingly, the proper times for reciting these two parts of the service – Shema and Shemoneh Esrei – are not identical. [...]
In terms of Shemoneh Esrei and the rest of Ma’ariv, the proper time depends on the times when the various Temple services were performed. As above, Mincha corresponds to the afternoon daily offering while Ma’ariv corresponds to the burning of the remaining portions of the day’s sacrifices. (This time begins immediately after the time for the afternoon offering ends.) Until when may the afternoon offering be brought? It is an unresolved debate in the Mishna (Brachos 4:1, Talmud there 27a). It is either brought until nightfall or until 1¼ hours before sunset. (An “hour” in this context is 1/12th of the time from sunrise till sunset.) One of these two times is the cutoff between Mincha and Ma’ariv time (Shulchan Aruch 233:1; see also Mishna Berurah 235:7 with Sha’ar HaTziyun 6). [...]
[T]here is a debate in the Talmud as to the dividing time between the afternoon and evening services in the Temple – whether it is 1¼ hours before sunset or at nightfall. This debate is unresolved, and so the Talmud concludes that either practice is acceptable. A person can recite Mincha until 1¼ hours before sunset and Ma’ariv right after that, or Mincha until sunset and Ma’ariv from nightfall. (This is again due to the further doubt in halacha if bein ha’shemashot is daytime or nighttime.) [...] However, in exceptional circumstances, or if it would be difficult to gather a minyan in the synagogue later, one may follow the other opinion – which for us would mean to pray Mincha before 1¼ before sunset and Ma’ariv immediately after that (Shulchan Aruch 233:1 with Rema, 235:1, Mishna Berurah 235:8).
One exception, however, is Friday night. Since we are obligated to add to Shabbat, it is acceptable to follow the other practice on Friday nights only and begin Shabbat anytime after 1¼ hours before sunset, praying Ma’ariv in this time as well. However, one must be sure to complete Mincha before the 1¼ hour cutoff (Mishna Berurah 267:3). Based on this, many people make “early Shabbos” in the summer, when sunset is very late. (Note, however, that if one does follow the earlier cutoff time, although he may recite Ma’ariv early, he does not fulfill the obligation of reciting Shema – which must be said when people begin going to sleep. Shema (preferably all three paragraphs) will have to be said again later (Shulchan Aruch 235:1, Mishna Berurah 11). [...]
[T]here is a minority opinion that since the debate as to the cutoff between Mincha and Ma’ariv is unresolved, a person can adopt different practices not only on different days as above, but even on the same day. This means he can pray Mincha later than 1¼ hours before sunset and Ma’ariv before nightfall on the same day. Although almost all authorities reject such a practice as self-contradictory, recent authorities write that in a situation in which it would be difficult to gather a minyan to pray Mincha and Ma’ariv in the proper times, one may rely on this opinion (Mishna Berurah 233:11). [...]
Plag HaMincha – Or simply plag mincha, “half of mincha.” This is the midpoint between mincha ketana and sunset, which is one and a quarter halachic hours before the end of the day. Plag hamincha is the earliest time one may light candles and start Shabbos [...]. As we are currently on our Summer schedule, davening Friday night is at 7pm and Plag HaMincha for the next couple of weeks is at 6:59pm. Please be sure to light Shabbos candles only after Plag HaMincha.
Have a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Davies
Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org
