Zman Kerias Shema - Early Shabbos

QUESTION: When I make early Shabbos, I sometimes return home from shul a few minutes before shkia (sunset). Is there any issue with starting a meal at this time?

ANSWER: One is not permitted to begin a meal within a half hour of z’man Kerias Shema (i.e., tzeis ha’kochavim), lest one become preoccupied by the meal and forget to recite Shema. The Beis Yosef (OC 267) asks how we can make early Shabbos and often begin our meals within a half hour of tzeis ha’kochavim?

There are a range of responses and opinions. The Beis Yosef answers that the Rosh (Brachos 1:1) cites an opinion that one may fulfill the mitzvah of Shema from plag hamincha and on. In practice, we do not follow this opinion brought by the Rosh, as we repeat Shema after nightfall to be certain to fulfill this Biblical mitzvah properly. Nonetheless, with regard to the Rabbinic prohibition of beginning a meal before we recite Shema, we may rely on the more lenient opinion as found in the Rosh. Since we daven Ma’ariv and say Shema in shul, we are allowed to make kiddush without reciting Shema. The Magen Avrohom (267:2) disagrees and writes that one must make sure to begin their meal at least half an hour before tzeis ha’kochavim.

The Aruch Hashulchan writes that during the week, one may not start a meal and rely on having read Shema after plag, but on Friday night one may rely on the Beis Yosef. Just as Friday afternoon is transformed from a weekday to Shabbos by accepting Shabbos early, so too the daytime period after plag is treated as nightfall with respect to the recitation of Shema. The Mishnah Berurah (267:6) writes that one should follow the Magen Avrohom, but those who follow the Beis Yosef have a valid basis to be lenient.

Some poskim offer the following compromise: If one considers tzeis ha’kochavim to be 50 minutes after sunset, they may begin the Shabbos meal until 20 minutes after sunset. After this point one should repeat Shema, since one can already fulfill their obligation according to the Geonim, and then recite kiddush. After the meal, one should repeat Shema again to fulfill the mitzvah according to all opinions (Rav Chanoch Dov Padwa, zt”l, Kol Hatorah 5761).

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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.