When Does Shabbat End?: Difference between revisions
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</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 halachically significant enough way 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 halachically significant enough way 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 (Rav Tukachinsky)== | ==The Astronomical Method (Rav Tukachinsky)== | ||
According to this position, anything that is stipulated in the Gemara (see below) about the amount of time between sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim is only applicable to Bavel (Babylonia) and Israel during the Tishrei and Nissan equinoxes, not for the rest of the world nor during any other time of the year. The astronomical method uses the time that it takes to see the three small stars in Israel and the position of the sun at | According to this position, anything that is stipulated in the Gemara (see below) about the amount of time between sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim is only applicable to Bavel (Babylonia) and Israel during the Tishrei and Nissan equinoxes, not for the rest of the world nor during any other time of the year. The astronomical method uses the time that it takes to see the three small stars in Israel and the position of the sun at this time 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 32 minutes in the winter and 38 minutes in the summer (in the United States and Eruope, 50-60 minutes<ref>Shu"t Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 4:62</ref>) 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 other time during the year. <ref>Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky, Sefer Bein HaShemashot. Berur Halacha (Zilber) Tinyana Siman. | ||
*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><ref>In the New York area, this usually takes approximately 40 minutes after sunset at the equinox, and as much as 51 minutes during the summer.</ref> | *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><ref>In the New York area, this usually takes approximately 40 minutes after sunset at the equinox, and as much as 51 minutes during the summer.</ref> | ||
The amount of time it will take for the sun to set 8.5 degrees | The amount of time it will take for the sun to set 8.5 degrees varies by locale and therefore, the time between sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim is not uniform across different regions. | ||
==The Time Based Method== | ==The Time Based Method== | ||
Besides for the astronomical method mentioned above, there are many of the opinion that Shabbat ends at | Besides for the astronomical method mentioned above, there are many of the opinion that Shabbat ends at a uniform increment of time after sunset in every region of the world. | ||
===Rabbeinu Tam's Position=== | ===Rabbeinu Tam's Position=== | ||
There are multiple Gemaras that comment on | There are multiple Gemaras that comment on the time span between sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim. One of them states that it is the amount of time between sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim is the amount of time it takes to walk 4 mil<ref>Pesachim 94a</ref>, while the other states that it is the amount of time to walk 0.75 mil <ref>Shabbat 35a</ref>. Not only are the Gemarot contradictory, but it is also unclear how long a mil is in time. | ||
There are a number of Rishonim that try to reconcile the different statements, the most notable of the opinions being that of Rabbeinu Tam<ref>quoted in Tosafot on both of these Gemaras</ref> who concludes that there is not one but two sunsets that halacha recognizes. The first of them is the natural sunset, which marks the beginning of the sun's setting. Then, 3.25 mil later, a second, halachic, sunset occurs, lasting for 0.75 mil, after which is Tzeit HaKochavim. The first 3.25 mil, for halachic purposes, is completely considered halachic day<ref>Under the 18 minute definition of a mil, this would consider halachic day to last until 58.5 minutes after natural sunset. | There are a number of Rishonim that try to reconcile the different statements, the most notable of the opinions being that of Rabbeinu Tam<ref>quoted in Tosafot on both of these Gemaras</ref> who concludes that there is not one but two sunsets that halacha recognizes. The first of them is the natural sunset, which marks the beginning of the sun's setting. Then, 3.25 mil later, a second, halachic, sunset occurs, lasting for 0.75 mil, after which is Tzeit HaKochavim. The first 3.25 mil, for halachic purposes, is completely considered halachic day<ref>Under the 18 minute definition of a mil, this would consider halachic day to last until 58.5 minutes after natural sunset. | ||
