Eating Before Davening: Difference between revisions

==Mincha==

* The Mishna ([[Shabbat]] 9b) writes that one may not start a meal close to the time of Mincha and if one started one may continue. The Gemara 9b initially posits that this prohibition must only apply from Mincha Katana because why would it start from Mincha Gedolah isn’t there a lot of time from Mincha Gedolah (and one will certainly have time to pray). Then the Gemara says that the fact that the Mishna states that if one started one doesn’t have to stop the meal contradicts Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi who says one may not taste food before Mincha. Rather, says the Gemara, the Mishna was talking about having a big meal (before Mincha Gedolah) and this doesn’t contradict Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi who forbad eating after Mincha Ketana. Then the Gemara quotes a second opinion, Rav Acha Bar Yacov who says that the Mishna means that one can’t have even a small meal before Mincha Gedolah.  

* The Rishonim (early authorities) discuss what is the halacha based on the Gemara Brachot 28b which states that the halacha doesn’t follow Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi.  

* The Rama 232:2 writes that one may be more lenient than S”A to have a small meal before Mincha Gedolah and before Mincha Ketana but one should still be strict like the Ri not to have a big meal even before Mincha Gedolah and the Minhag is even more lenient to permit any meal except for a big meal before Mincha Katana (which is a combination of the leniency of the Baal HaMoar and the leniency of the Ri). [The Yalkut Yosef (vol 3 pg 635) writes that this is also the opinion of the Mordechai. However, the Mordechai in [[Shabbat]] (Siman 225) seems to hold like Rabbenu Tam.]  

* The achronim discuss whether the leniency to permit having a small meal even before Mincha Ketana allows one to have a small meal at any time or only until the actual time of Mincha Ketana (nine and a half hour and not the beginning of the ninth hour). The Magan Avraham 232:15 is strict, however, the Mahariv is lenient. Mishna Brurah 232:26 is lenient.  

* The Bet Yosef 232:2 quotes the Ran ([[Shabbat]] 4a D”H Hay) who says that this prohibition which begins close to the time of Mincha starts a half hour before the time of Mincha. The Bet Yosef writes that this is also the opinion of the Rashbam (Pesachim 99b). [The Mordechai in [[Shabbat]] (Siman 225) also says a half hour.]  

* The Yalkut Yosef (vol 3, pg 634-6) writes that it’s preferable to hold like Shulchan Aruch not to eat a small or big meal after the sixth hour. However, the minhag for centuries was to be lenient and there is what to rely on. Nonetheless, even according to the lenient opinions there is no room to be lenient to have a big meal after the tenth hour. </ref>

# This prohibition to eat before Mincha only applies to having a small meal which is more than a Kebaytzah of bread, however, a snack such as a Kebaytzah of bread or less or a lot of fruit is permissible. <Ref> Tur and S”A 232:3 define the meal that is forbidden as having bread more than a KeBaytzah. [See also Kesef Mishna (Tefillah 5:6) who gives another amount for this prohibition.] </ref>

* The Gemara Brachot 5b quotes Abba Binyamin who said that he would make every effort to pray immediately upon waking up. Rashi (D"H Samuch) explains that Abba Binyamin wouldn't even learn prior to praying Shema. The Rosh (Brachot 1:7) asks what possible drove Rashi to explain that he didn't even learn before praying and explains that perhaps for a person who doesn't usually pray with a minyan it's likely that if he learns he'll continue and miss saying Shema and [[Shemoneh Esrei]] by the latest time. Based on the Rosh, S"A 89:6 rules that once the time for Shachrit comes one may not learn before praying Shacharit unless one always goes to pray with a minyan.

* However, this leniency of always praying with a minyan is only found in Shulchan Aruch regarding learning before Shacharit (S"A 89:6), but not in regards to eating before praying Shacharit (S"A 89:3), Mincha (S"A 232:2), or Arvit (S"A 235:2). Nonetheless, the Aruch HaShulchan 232:16 writes that the lenient minhag relies upon this idea that if one always prays in a minyan one may eat before Mincha. Additionally, Sh"t Igrot Moshe 4:99 extends it to defend the practice to pray Arvit late and eat beforehand. Piskei Teshuvot 232:3 uses the Aruch HaShulchan but limits it to someone who goes to a minyan at a fixed time and also says that it isn't a sufficient leniency to eat a large meal such as a wedding feast. </ref>

==Arvit==

# From a half hour before Tzet HaChachavim (of the Geonim, not רבינו תם) it’s forbidden to eat a meal (2 kezaytim of bread or Pas HaBah Bekisnin). <Ref>Mishna Brurah 235:16 </ref>  

==Mussaf==

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