Question:
What is the Halachic basis for bringing in Shabbos early in the summer months?
Answer:
The minhag in many communities around the world, and especially in chutz lo’oretz in the summer months, is to bring Shabbos in early, i.e., to daven, make kiddush and eat the se’udoh after plag hamincha on Erev Shabbos but before nightfall.
Although from a Halachic perspective it is ideal, where feasible, to daven Ma’ariv and eat the se’uda after nightfall (and this is the widespread minhag among Ashkenazim in Eretz Yisroel) many choose to bring Shabbos in early during the summer months in chutz lo’oretz for the following reasons:
Firstly, during the summer months in the northern hemisphere, bein hashmoshos can extend for a long period of time, and were Ma’ariv to be davened only at night, many could inadvertently come to perform melochos during bein hashmoshos (Aruch Hashulchan). (This is because kabbolas Shabbos is often davened just before Ma’ariv, and many are aware that by saying Mizmor shir leyom Hashabbos they are accepting Shabbos but are not aware that one must cease all melocho at sunset irrespective of “actively” accepting Shabbos verbally.)
Secondly, for many individuals and families it is highly impractical to start the Shabbos meal late at night, especially for those with young children.
Because of these reasons it has become the norm in many communities to do “early Shabbos” during the summer months.
There are several points that one should keep in mind regarding “early Shabbos”:
· The earliest time that it is possible to accept Shabbos and daven Ma’ariv is plag hamincha – i.e., one and a quarter sho’os zmaniyos (relative hours) before sunset.
· One who will be davening Ma’ariv before nightfall should ideally daven Mincha before plag hamincha (see Mishna Berura Siman 267 s.k. 3).
· Ladies should ensure to light candles after plag hamincha but before their husbands are mekabel Shabbos.
· One must remember to recite keriyas shema (all three paragraphs) after nightfall.
· One who wishes to eat the Shabbos se’uda before nightfall should begin the se’uda (i.e. by washing netilas yodayim) before half an hour prior to nightfall.
· One should ideally continue the se’uda until after nightfall and ensure to eat a k’beitzah of bread after nightfall.
· During sefiras ho’omer one should remember to count sefiras ho’omer after nightfall. |
