When Is the Earliest and Latest Time to Pray?: Difference between revisions

*See Hazmanim B'halacha Chap 41 for a complete discussion.</ref>

#Some ''poskim'' write, that even according to Rabbenu Tam, in areas of a lower latitude where three medium-sized stars are visible earlier, ''tzet hakochavim'' would be at the time when the stars are visible.<ref>Minchas Kohen 2:5 ''s.v.'' ''she'im'', Biur Halacha 261:2 ''s.v. kodem'' and Igros Moshe O.C. IV:62 agree. Rav Moshe writes that in New York the time for ''tzet'' according to Rabbenu Tam is 50 minutes after ''shkiya''; however, he writes that it is proper for G-d fearing Jews to wait 72 minutes to end Shabbat, as was the custom in Europe. See Hazmanim B'halacha Chap. 42 for a complete discussion.</ref>

#Many Chassidim maintain that it is optimal to ''daven'' ''mincha'' up until the ''bein hashmashot'' of Rabbenu Tam, which is 3.75 ''mil'' after ''shkiya''. There are some who hold that it is even optimal to ''daven'' during ''bein hashmashot'' of Rabbenu Tam.<ref>For a discussion on this see Piskei Teshuva 233:6-8.</ref>

#If one's only options are to either to ''daven'' ''mincha'' before sunset himself or to ''daven'' with a ''minyan'' after sunset, it will depend on if he is Ashkenazi or Sephardi. Ashkenazim hold that one should ''daven'' oneself on time before sunset,<ref>Mishna Brurah 233:14 writes that it is better to pray Mincha before shkiyah without a minyan than to pray with a minyan after shkiyah. In an extenuating circumstance he allows davening mincha until 3.25 mil after shekiya based on the Shulchan Aruch. [https://ph.yhb.org.il/02-24-04/#_te01ftn24_3 Peninei Halacha (Tefillah 24:4)] holds that one can follow the Mishna Brurah who is based on Rabbenu Tam and even though we do not follow Rabbenu Tam since many agree with him. However, Kuntres Seyda Lderech p. 39 quotes Chazon Ish that one should not daven mincha after sunset even in extenuating circumstances or after the fact. Dirshu 233:22 cites this as well from Ishrei Yosher (Nezikin n. 94). Rav Nevinsal on Mishna Brurah 233:14 writes that someone who doesn't always follow Rabbenu Tam on ending Shabbat can not daven mincha after sunset even after the fact. Also, Avnei Darech 8:200 quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach as holding that one may not daven mincha after sunset. [http://www.eretzhemdah.org/newsletterArticle.asp?lang=he&pageid=48&cat=1&newsletter=3705&article=7631 Bmarah Habazek 3:14] writes that one shouldn't daven after sunset and just daven tashlumin. [https://www.yeshiva.co/ask/58222 Rav Belsky] held that it is possible to daven up to 9 minutes after sunset based on Rav Moshe. See Igrot Moshe 1:24 who writes that one shouldn't pray mincha after sunset. See further Igrot Moshe 4:62.</ref> while Sephardim hold that one can wait to ''daven'' with the ''minyan'' as long as it is within 13.5 minutes after sunset.<ref> Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul (cited in Ishei Yisroel page 296) and Chacham Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daat 5:22) write that it is preferable to pray with a minyan as long as they are praying within the first thirteen and a half minutes after sunset. Rabbi Meir Mazuz in Bayit Neeman 1:25 p. 146 s.v. miyhu agrees even though we don't accept Rabbeinu Tam since this case is an minhag to pray during Ben Hashemashot. Yalkut Yosef 233:3 and Halacha Brurah 233:6 agree. </ref>

==Times for Arvit (Maariv)==

#One who ''davened'' ''arvit'' prior to ten- and three-quarter hours has not fulfilled his obligation and must ''daven'' again.<ref>Mishna Brurah 233:10, Kaf HaChaim 233:11 as is implied by Shulchan Aruch 233:1 </ref>

#One who means to ''daven arvit'' after ''tzeit hakochavim'' but mistakenly ''davened'' from ''plag hamincha'', must ''daven'' again at the proper time.<ref>Gemara Brachot 27b writes that on Friday afternoon someone who made a mistake and said [[Arvit]] early thinking it was nighttime according to Abaye he would have to pray again. The Rabbenu Yonah 18b s.v. Rav explains that since one made a mistake and did not intend to pray [[Arvit]] early one does not fulfill one’s obligation. The Magen Avraham 263:26 and Mishna Brurah 263:55 agree that this halacha applies equally to a weeknight as to Friday night. </ref>

#[[Kriyat Shema|''Kriyat shema'']] must be recited after [[Tzet HaKochavim|''tzet hakochavim'']].<ref>Mishna Brachot 2a, Shulchan Aruch OC 235:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 70:1</ref> Since ''kriyat shema'' is biblical, one should be vigilant to recite ''shema'' after ''tzet hakochavim'' of Rabbenu Tam.<ref>Mishna Brurah 235:4, Igrot Moshe YD 4:48:4</ref>

#Ideally, one should ''daven'' [[Arvit|''arvit'']] after [[Tzet HaKochavim|''tzet hakochavim'']];<ref>Mishna Brurah 233:9, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 70:2</ref> however, the ''minhag'' of many places is to ''daven'' ''arvit'' immediately after sunset.<ref>Igrot Moshe II:60 writes that it may not be a contradiction to ''daven arvit'' at a time when one would no longer ''daven mincha.'' Thus, he writes, that one may ''daven'' with a ''minyan'' that is ''davening arvit'' at that time, if that is his only opportunity to ''daven'' with a ''minyan.'' Mishna Brurah 235:12 writes that fortunate is the person who can daven with a congregation after Tzet Hakochavim which is the correct time.</ref>

#Many are accustomed to ''davening'' ''mincha'' before ''shkiya'', taking a short break, and ''davening arvit'' after ''tzet'' of the ''geonim'' which can be as early as nine minutes after ''shkiya.''<ref>According to Igrot Moshe IV:62, see Ishei Yisrael Chap. 28 footnote 2</ref>

===Arvit Before Sunset If One Davened Mincha Early===