When Does Shabbat End?: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→Interpretations and Derivatives of Rabbeinu Tam's Position
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
===Rabbeinu Tam's Position=== | ===Rabbeinu Tam's Position=== | ||
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 | 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 milin<ref>Pesachim 94a</ref>, while the other states that it is the amount of time to walk 0.75 mil <ref>Shabbat 34b</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> | 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>Tosafot on Shabbat 35a</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 as there is still some daylight in the sky<ref>Under the 18 minute definition of a mil, this would consider halachic day to last until 58.5 minutes after natural sunset. | ||
Because of this, Chassidic communities that held like Rabbeinu Tam continued to do melacha even after natural sunset on Friday evening because for them, Shabbat had not started yet. Such a practice was contrary to the practice of the rest of the Orthodox community as everyone else stopped doing melacha at natural sunset. Upon the controversy that ensued, Rav Aharon Kotler forged an agreement with these communities that they would begin Shabbat with everyone else at natural sunset.</ref>, while the final 0.75 mil is ambiguous as to whether is considered halachic day or night (Bein HaShemashot). The Gemara in Pesachim is referring to the time between the first sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim and the Gemara in Shabbat is referring to the time between the second sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim. | Because of this, Chassidic communities that held like Rabbeinu Tam continued to do melacha even after natural sunset on Friday evening because for them, Shabbat had not started yet. Such a practice was contrary to the practice of the rest of the Orthodox community as everyone else stopped doing melacha at natural sunset. Upon the controversy that ensued, Rav Aharon Kotler forged an agreement with these communities that they would begin Shabbat with everyone else at natural sunset.</ref>, while the final 0.75 mil is ambiguous as to whether is considered halachic day or night (Bein HaShemashot) since the light is diminished. The Gemara in Pesachim is referring to the time between the first sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim and the Gemara in Shabbat is referring to the time between the second sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim. | ||
For those who follow Rabbeinu Tam's position, Tzeit HaKochavim and the end of Shabbat occurs at a uniform 4 mil after natural sunset for all locales.<ref>Teshuvot V'Hanhagot 1:268</ref> The only difference among the different interpretations of Rabbeinu Tam's position is how long to define a mil, which has ramifications for how long 4 mil would be and when Shabbat would end. | For those who follow Rabbeinu Tam's position, Tzeit HaKochavim and the end of Shabbat occurs at a uniform 4 mil after natural sunset for all locales.<ref>Teshuvot V'Hanhagot 1:268</ref> The only difference among the different interpretations of Rabbeinu Tam's position is how long to define a mil, which has ramifications for how long 4 mil would be and when Shabbat would end. | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
===Interpretations and Derivatives of Rabbeinu Tam's Position=== | ===Interpretations and Derivatives of Rabbeinu Tam's Position=== | ||
*The most standard of these positions is that a mil is 18 minutes. Therefore, communities should end Shabbat 72 minutes after natural sunset.<ref>18 min/mil x 4 mil = 72 mins | *The most standard of these positions is that a mil is 18 minutes.<ref>Mishna Berurah Hilchot Matzah</ref> Therefore, communities should end Shabbat 72 minutes after natural sunset.<ref>18 min/mil x 4 mil = 72 mins | ||
This was the position advocated by R' Moshe Feinstein for Binei Torah (even though he said 50 mins was sufficient) as well as the private, personal practice R' Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik (1903-1993) even though he paskened one only needed to wait 30 minutes after natural sunset in New York and Boston.</ref> | This was the position advocated by R' Moshe Feinstein for Binei Torah (even though he said 50 mins was sufficient) as well as the private, personal practice R' Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik (1903-1993) even though he paskened one only needed to wait 30 minutes after natural sunset in New York and Boston.</ref> | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
===Other Opinions=== | ===Other Opinions=== | ||
The other major position that sought to resolve the contradiction in Gemaras was that of the Vilna Gaon (Gr"a) who held that there is only 1 halachic sunset which occurs at natural sunset. The 0.75 mil the Gemara was referring to is the time that it takes 3 medium sized stars to appear in the sky, which is nighttime on a Torah level. We are then required to wait longer until 3 small stars appear<ref>See the Shulchan Aruch quoted above.</ref> to appear to end Shabbat. When the Gemara was speaking about 4 mil, it is referring to when all the stars appear in the sky, which | The other major position that sought to resolve the contradiction in Gemaras was that of the Geonim and the Vilna Gaon (Gr"a) who held that there is only 1 halachic sunset which occurs at natural sunset. The 0.75 mil the Gemara was referring to is the time that it takes 3 medium sized stars to appear in the sky, which is nighttime on a Torah level. We are then required to wait longer until 3 small stars appear<ref>See the Shulchan Aruch quoted above.</ref> to appear to end Shabbat. When the Gemara was speaking about 4 mil, it is referring to when all the stars appear in the sky, which does not have halachic significance.<ref>Bei'ur HaGra and Bei'ur Halacha, Orach Chaim 261:2 and Mishna Berurah 293:3</ref> This position requires a wait to Tzeit HaKochavim that is less than the 4 mil presented by Rabbeinu Tam. Many rishonim and geonim agree with the opinion of the Vilna Goan including the Ri<ref>Mayim Chaim of the Pri Chadash (5704 edition p. 116 s.v. ubemet) writes that Tosfot Pesachim 2a s.v. vha citing the Ri holds like the Geonim and Gra. Bear Avraham Pesachim 2a agrees and asks why the earlier poskim didn’t quote this Tosfot as a proof. Derech Yeshara Ben Hashemashot p. 124 and Ish Matzliach (MB v. 3 Kuntres Ben Hashemashot p. 91) also bring this proof. Graz in Piskei HaSiddur (cited by Hazmanim Bhalacha 2:41:9) also says Tosfot Pesachim 2a holds like Geonim. The Hazmanim Bhalacha tries to avoid this reading but from Tosfot Rashba he isn’t sure.</ref> and Rambam.<ref>The Maharam Alshaker 96 proves that the Rambam agrees with the Geonim that Ben Hashemashot is all of 0.75 mil and begins immediately after shekiya. One of his proves is from Rav Avraham Ben Harambam in his work, Alkafiya. Yabia Omer OC 2:21:4 disagrees and tries to show that the Rambam Pirush Mishnayot (Shabbat 2:6) holds like Rabbenu Tam. Ish Matzliach (Kuntres Ben Hashemashot MB v. 3) thoroughly tries to disprove Yabia Omer's contention and show that the Rambam thinks like the Geonim. Or Letzion YD 1:10 also explains that the Rambam follows the Geonim.</ref> | ||
*Rav Moshe Feinstein held that Shabbat ends at a maximum of 50 minutes after sunset as by then, the stars that will usually appear in the night sky will be out by then.<ref>Shu"t Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 4:62. Rav Moshe held that Binei Torah should wait 72 minutes after sunset as that was the minhag in Europe. With that said, even Rabbeinu Tam would agree that 50 minutes would suffice since all the stars are out by then. [https://www.torahmusings.com/2018/09/when-is-shabbat-over/ Rabbi Yaakov Hoffman] mustered evidence that in fact the minhag was always to keep Shabbat until 3 stars appeared and in practice were following the Geonim and even Rabbenu Tam never intended to institute a novel interpretation of Tzet Hakochavim.</ref> | *Rav Moshe Feinstein held that Shabbat ends at a maximum of 50 minutes after sunset as by then, the stars that will usually appear in the night sky will be out by then.<ref>Shu"t Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 4:62. Rav Moshe held that Binei Torah should wait 72 minutes after sunset as that was the minhag in Europe. With that said, even Rabbeinu Tam would agree that 50 minutes would suffice since all the stars are out by then. [https://www.torahmusings.com/2018/09/when-is-shabbat-over/ Rabbi Yaakov Hoffman] mustered evidence that in fact the minhag was always to keep Shabbat until 3 stars appeared and in practice were following the Geonim and even Rabbenu Tam never intended to institute a novel interpretation of Tzet Hakochavim.</ref> | ||
