QUESTION: What is the earliest time that one may light Shabbos candles?

ANSWER: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 263:4) writes that one may light candles and accept Shabbos starting at plag hamincha, which is one and a quarter sha’os zmaniyos (halachic hours) before nighttime. These hours are determined by dividing the daylight hours into 12 equal parts. In the summer, in New York City, a halachic hour can be as long as 75 minutes, and in the winter, it can be as short as 45 minutes. There is a difference of opinion between the Geonim and Rabbeinu Tam as to whether we consider nighttime for this purpose to be sunset [the position of the Geonim] or tzeis hakochavim (when stars become visible) [the view of Rabbeinu Tam]. Many people accept an “early Shabbos” and light candles up to an hour and a quarter before sunset. This follows the opinion of the Geonim. Adherents of Rabbeinu Tam do not light candles until an hour and a quarter before tzeis hakochavim.

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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.