When Does Shabbat End?: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→The Astronomical Method
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
</ref>. This is the widely accepted definition of when Shabbat ends, though there are a variety of opinions as to when this phenomenon actually occurs in a way that is halachically significant enough to end Shabbat. Most of these opinions can be subcategorized in one of two major methods of calculation: an astronomical based method or a time based method. | </ref>. This is the widely accepted definition of when Shabbat ends, though there are a variety of opinions as to when this phenomenon actually occurs in a way that is halachically significant enough to end Shabbat. Most of these opinions can be subcategorized in one of two major methods of calculation: an astronomical based method or a time based method. | ||
==The Astronomical Method== | ==The Astronomical Method== | ||
The astronomical method uses the time that it takes to see three small stars in Israel and position of the sun | According to this position, what is stipulated in the Gemara about the time between sunset and the emergence of three stars is only applicable to Bavel (Babylonia) and Israel during the Tishrei and Nissan equinoxes, not for the rest of the world and during the rest of the year. The astronomical method uses the time that it takes to see three small stars in Israel and the position of the sun at the above mentioned times to extrapolate a calculation for when Shabbat should end for the rest of the world. In Jerusalem, during the Tishrei and Nissan equinoxes, it takes approximately 36 minutes after sunset to see these three stars in the sky. At this time, the sun has set 8.5 degrees below the horizon. Therefore, Shabbat ends when the sun has set 8.5 degrees below the horizon in every other location in the world at any given point during the year. <ref>Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky, Sefer Bein HaShemashot. Berur Halacha (Zilber) Tinyana Siman. | ||
In light of this determination, the amount of time after sunset when Shabbat will end will vary from place to place | *Zmanim KHalacha p. 43 quotes Hacham Ovadia as holding that the minutes for Olot do not depend on location but rather shaot zmaniyot. Rabbi Yehuda Levi, author of Zmanim KHalacha, argues with Hacham Ovadia on the same page. He writes that the 72 minutes are not calculated based on the shaot zmaniot and do depend on current location. Rabbi Levi's difficulties stem from the Rambam's language and astronomic calculation. In the Berachot (1:1), Rambam uses a unique Arabic term when referring to alot hashachar, one that is not used in reference to zman Kriyat Shema (Berachot 1:5) or a the time of a mil (Pesachim 3:2). Furthermore, in the winter, it starts to become light earlier than it starts to become light the spring and the fall, despite having shorter shaot zmaniot in the winter; given this reality, it is difficult to justify calculating alot hashachar strictly according to shaot zmaniot. Therefore, Rabbi Levi maintains that alot hashachar's calculation is determined by degrees below the horizon.</ref> | ||
In light of this determination, the amount of time after sunset when Shabbat will end will vary from place to place and is not uniform. | |||
==The Time Based Method== | ==The Time Based Method== | ||
