Mincha - Mistaken Calculation

QUESTION: I realized that I made a mistake computing mincha gedola (the earliest time one can daven mincha – half an hour after midday), and I davened mincha 15 minutes too early. Must I repeat mincha?

ANSWER: The Magen Avrohom (233:1) writes that if one davened mincha before mincha gedola, the tefilla must be repeated. The time for Mincha corresponds to the time when the afternoon korban tamid was sacrificed. On a Biblical level the korban tamid could be brought immediately after chatzos ha’yom, however Chazal added an additional half an hour to avoid any potential errors in telling time. Since the korban tamid was not brought until half an hour after midday, mincha too may not be recited before this time, and if one did, the tefilla must be repeated. However, the Mishnah Berurah (233:2) cites other poskim, including the Pri Chadash, who disagree with the Magen Avrohom. Although one should not daven before a half hour after chatzos, if one failed to wait, the tefilla need not be repeated, since the half hour was only added as a precaution. The Aruch Hashulchan (233:13) offered a proof to the Pri Chadash from the Mishnah in Berachos (4:1). The Mishnah states: “Tefillas shacharis may be said until chatzos... and tefillas mincha until the evening.” The implication of the Mishnah is that the beginning time for mincha is immediately after the last time for shacharis.

Rabbi Genack (Gan Shoshanim pg. 14) pointed out that the Meiri supports that opinion of the Magen Avrohom. The Meiri (Berachos 26a) writes that if one has not yet davened shacharis, he may still do so until half an hour after midday. Since the time to daven shacharis and the time for mincha do not overlap, it is clear that according to Meiri if one davened mincha before a half hour after midday, since it is still the time for shacharis, he will have to daven again. However, the Rambam (Tefila 3:1) writes that shacharis may only be recited until midday. Rabbi Genack explained that the machlokes between the Magen Avrohom and Pri Chadash depends on the following. Did Chazal on a Rabbinic level restate the time when the afternoon korban tamid must be brought or did they just institute the extra half hour to avoid confusion? The Meiri and Magen Avrohom would follow the former view, while the Rambam and Pri Chadash would follow the latter. Rabbi Genack pointed out that based on the explanation of the Meiri we can also explain a difficult Rashi in Pesachim (58a s.v. ella). Rashi implies that on a Biblical level the korban Pesach may be brought any time in the afternoon, from ½ hour after midday and on. This Rashi is difficult to understand, since on a Biblical level the afternoon begins at midday, and the extra ½ hour was added to avoid confusion. However, according to the explanation of the Meiri, that Chazal restated the time when the afternoon korbanos may be brought, it is easier to understand why Rashi implied that the afternoon begins a ½ hour after midday. 

Rav Soloveitchik zt"l as well said that if one acidentally davened mincha immediately after midday, he need not repeat mincha, as per the ruling of the Pri Chadash. 

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.