Making Early Shabbat

One will often find congregations davening ma'ariv on Friday evenings well before the preferred time, which is nightfall. Some congregations even recite ma'ariv before sunset. The Talmud sanctions this practice and notes that there were great sages who regularly did so, especially on Fridays, in order to be able to begin Shabbat a little earlier than the required time.[1] Although one is permitted to recite ma'ariv earlier when needed, especially when doing so for the purpose of inaugurating Shabbat, one may only do so from the time of day known as "plag hamincha".[2]

It is a matter of dispute when exactly plag hamincha is. While it is clear that plag hamincha is one and a quarter halachic hours before the end of the day, it is actually undecided amongst the authorities as to when a day begins and ends from the perspective of halacha. According to some authorities, the day begins at the crack of dawn and ends at nightfall,[3] while others hold that the day begins at sunrise and ends at sunset.[4] The former approach renders plag hamincha only slightly before the true arrival of Shabbat while the latter one allows for accepting and commencing Shabbat quite some time before sunset. Common custom is to follow the latter view.[5] It is interesting to note that in a situation of pressing need, there are authorities who allow one to recite ma'ariv and accept Shabbat even before plag hamincha.[6]

Many families choose to accept Shabbat early in the summer months, in order to allow the Shabbat meal to begin at a reasonable hour which allows the children to participate as well. Accepting Shabbat early is also a fulfillment of the principle of "Tosfot Shabbat" in which we are actually encouraged to accept Shabbat before it truly begins.[7] One need not daven ma'ariv in order to accept Shabbat, merely reciting the "mizmor shir l'yom hashabbat" is adequate for this purpose, as is lighting the Shabbat candles or reciting kiddush and sitting down to one's Shabbat meal.[8]

One who is part of a small community with only one minyan is required to accept Shabbat along with the community at the time they have chosen to do so.[9] However, if the congregation or community is making "early Shabbat" primarily out of considerations of convenience and not necessarily for the mitzva of Tosfot Shabbat, then an individual is not required to comply with this earlier onset of Shabbat.[10] In a community comprised of many congregations, with some accepting Shabbat early and others doing so at the set time, one can choose when to accept Shabbat accordingly.[11] While it is ideal for a husband and wife to accept Shabbat at the same time,[12] it is not truly required.[13]

While accepting Shabbat early sounds like and often is a beautiful idea, the "early Shabbat" model does have its detractors as well.[14] Among the reasons that some authorities frown upon accepting Shabbat early is in deference to the view that ma'ariv should never be recited before nightfall.[15] There are also authorities who insist that one may only hold the Friday night Shabbat meal after nightfall, making an early Shabbat of little practical benefit.[16] In any event, it is also not unanimous as to how early one is truly permitted to begin Shabbat at all.[17]

[1] Berachot 27a

[2] O.C. 267:2

[3] Mishna Berura O.C. 263:19

[4] Biur Hagra O.C. 459

[5] Shulchan Aruch Harav 443:4, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 69:2, Aruch Hashulchan 233:14, 267:3

[6] Aruch Hashulchan 263:19

[7] O.C. 261:2

[8] O.C. 263:10, O.C. 261:4

[9] O.C. 263:12-13

[10] Igrot  Moshe O.C. 3:38, Piskei Teshuvot 263:19

[11] Mishna Berura 263:51, Piskei Teshuvot 263:20

[12] Aruch Hashulchan 263:22

[13] Rivevot Ephraim 3:164, Igrot Moshe O.C. 3:38, Piskei Teshuvot 263:19

[14] Kovetz Teshuvot 23

[15] Biur Halacha 235:1

[16] Mishna Berura 267:5

[17] Shulchan Aruch Harav 443:4, Aruch Hashulchan 233:14, 267:3