Shabbat Parashat Shemot 5785

Ask the Rabbi: Davening Ma’ariv “Early” on Motzaei Shabbat

Question: My neighborhood has a minyan that begins Ma’ariv of Motzaei Shabbat (=MS) 15 minutes before the time for the end of Shabbat in standard calendars. Considering I don’t remember seeing such minyanim, is it permitted to daven so early? Is it okay for me to join?

Answer: We will start our discussion with the fundamental halachic principles.

One halachic component of Ma’ariv on MS is the tefilla of Ma’ariv, like every night. There are legitimate opinions that one can daven Ma’ariv from plag haMincha (long before sunset – Berachot 27a). However, the more accepted practice (Erev Shabbat may be different) is to wait until the day is over. For some (especially Sephardim), this is from sunset, but it is better to wait until tzeit hakochavim (see Mishna Berura 233:9), which is at least around 14 minutes after sunset, but most communities who wait for tzeit during the week assume it is between 18 and 25 minutes after sunset (not the 35+ minutes for the end of Shabbat). From a tefilla perspective, this is true also on MS.

The issue is the Shabbat element. The need for tosefet Shabbat is not only in the beginning of Shabbat but also at its end (see Beit Yosef, Orach Chayim 293; Mishna Berura 293:5). However, it is a short time, and the main reason for the significantly later time than “weekday tzeit hakochavim” on our calendars is out of concern, in such a serious matter, that our assumed tzeit hakochavim is too early. Fundamentally, both tosefet and special concern do not apply to Ma’ariv (see Mishna Berura 293:1), and therefore it is permitted according to basic Halacha to daven Ma’ariv a little early.

Does Havdala (Ata Chonantanu) in Shemoneh Esrei complicate matters? The Shulchan Aruch (OC 293:3, based on Berachot 27b) allows davening Ma’ariv toward the end of Shabbat if there is sufficient need. This includes Havdala in Shemoneh Esrei and likely even Havdala over wine (without making the beracha on light or doing melacha). The Maharshal, accepted by many poskim (see Mishna Berura 293:9) objected to davening so early because it looks strange to daven Ma’ariv of MS on Shabbat and because it could confuse people into doing melacha too early. However, we do not find that type of concern to Ma’ariv at a normal Ma’ariv time and when Shabbat is likely over me’ikar hadin. It does not look strange, and the concern for doing melacha is much less of a problem, at least if Shemoneh Esrei is over only after melacha is permitted.

In practice, though, the codified minhag (Shulchan Aruch ibid. 1; see Mishna Berura 1) is not to daven Ma’ariv before Shabbat is considered out. The Beit Yosef (ad loc.) connects the idea to the gemara (Shabbat 118b) that praises those who extend Shabbat longer than necessary. Let us put the connection in perspective. Davening Ma’ariv is one of the strongest ways to usher in a new day (see Shulchan Aruch, OC 261:4 regarding accepting Shabbat and Mishna Berura 188:32 regarding precluding saying R’tzei at Shabbat’s end). Therefore, besides Ata Chonantanu, davening Ma’ariv ends Shabbat to the extent possible, which somewhat negates tosefet Shabbat. The Pri Megadim (MZ 293:1) presents the same basic idea in other terms: we don’t want it to look as if Shabbat is a burden. There are also minhagim such as stretching out V’hu Rachum (Rama, OC 293:3) and the halachic discussions of perhaps doing Chanuka lights before Havdala (see Mishna Berura 681:3) to extend elements of Shabbat a little longer.

Therefore, the minyan you refer to is not forbidden, but standard practice and sources view it as against the minhag and distasteful under normal circumstances. When one has a pressing need, it is legitimate to end Ma’ariv at the time one can do melacha, and it is then a good question whether to daven at home or whether a large community should provide a “side minyan” due to the likelihood that there will be enough people with special needs. We do not pass judgment on an individual who takes part or a community that has such a minyan, but it would be unusual for a proper shul to have its main minyan early.

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