When Does Shabbat End?: Difference between revisions
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
===Overlying Question=== | ===Overlying Question=== | ||
The Talmud has several different statements about when the nighttime begins for all purposes including when Shabbat ends. The clearest statement on the matter is that of Shmuel in Gemara Shabbat 35b; once three medium stars are visible in the sky it is considered night. This time period is called ''Tzeit Hakochavim'', the emergence of the stars. Though, there are multiple Gemaras that comment on the time span between sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim. The Gemara Shabbat 34b records the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda that night only begins after a period of twilight which elapses from ''shekiya'' (sunset) for another two thirds of a mil or three quarters of a mil. Additionally, Rabbi Yosi disagrees and thinks twilight is minimal, literally "the length of time it takes to bat an eyelash", though not precisely that amount of time. Finally, the Gemara Pesachim 94a indicates that nightfall doesn't begin until 4 mil after ''shekiya''. There are three main approaches in the rishonim and achronim as how to resolve these statements of the Talmud in a cohesive manner. | The Talmud has several different statements about when the nighttime begins for all purposes including when Shabbat ends. The clearest statement on the matter is that of Shmuel in Gemara Shabbat 35b; once three medium stars are visible in the sky it is considered night. This time period is called ''Tzeit Hakochavim'', the emergence of the stars. Though, there are multiple Gemaras that comment on the time span between sunset and Tzeit HaKochavim. The Gemara Shabbat 34b records the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda that night only begins after a period of twilight which elapses from ''shekiya'' (sunset) for another two thirds of a mil or three quarters of a mil. Additionally, Rabbi Yosi disagrees and thinks twilight is minimal, literally "the length of time it takes to bat an eyelash", though not precisely that amount of time.<ref>Shaar Hatziyun 293:3 writes that it is the time it takes to walk 49 [[amot]] which is approximately half a minute. (It is dependent on the amount of time of a mil which is the time it takes to walk 2000 amot.)</ref> Finally, the Gemara Pesachim 94a indicates that nightfall doesn't begin until 4 mil after ''shekiya''. There are three main approaches in the rishonim and achronim as how to resolve these statements of the Talmud in a cohesive manner. | ||
===Rabbenu Tam's Answer=== | ===Rabbenu Tam's Answer=== | ||
Rabbenu Tam<ref>Tosfot Pesachim 94a s.v. Rabbi Yehuda, [[Tosafot]] on Shabbat 35a, [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=47991&st=&pgnum=333 Sefer HaYashar 221])</ref> held that there are two ''shekiya's''; the first is astronomical sunset and afterwards it is nighttime for korbanot purposes, but otherwise it is still day until the second ''shekiya'', which occurs three and a quarter mil after sunset. Then there is a duration of twilight of Rabbi Yehuda that is at most three quarters of a mil. For all purposes besides korbanot nighttime begins four mil after shekiya. This is also the understanding of most rishonim and Shulchan Aruch. This method would not allow relying on the emergence of stars method because the stars under discussion are subject to interpretation.<ref>The Bei'ur Halacha (293:1 s.v. ad cites the Minchat Cohen who is of the opinion that even Rabbeinu Tam, who holds that Shabbat should end 72 minutes after sunset (the time it takes to walk 4 mil), would concede that if three small stars in close proximity to each other are visible, Shabbat is over even if 72 minutes have not yet elapsed. This is in contrast to Rav Ovadia Yosef (Shu"t Yabia Omer 2:21) and the Orot HaChaim's opinion that Rabbeinu Tam and Shulchan Aruch are really stating the same position. The Orot HaChaim explains that the stars being mentioned in the Shulchan Aruch are ones that are closer to the western horizon where the sun sets, which apparently take longer to become visible.</ref> Those who rely upon that are described below. Rabbenu Tam's approach is subject to further debate as how to understand the time of four mil, whether it is measured in fixed minutes,<ref>Biur Halacha 261:2 s.v. sh'hu citing the Pri Megadim</ref> seasonal minutes (shaot zmaniyot),<ref>Biur Halacha 261:2 s.v. sh'hu citing Minchat Cohen and Biur Halacha concurs.</ref> or astronomical degrees. | Rabbenu Tam<ref>Tosfot Pesachim 94a s.v. Rabbi Yehuda, [[Tosafot]] on Shabbat 35a, [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=47991&st=&pgnum=333 Sefer HaYashar 221])</ref> held that there are two ''shekiya's''; the first is astronomical sunset and afterwards it is nighttime for korbanot purposes, but otherwise it is still day until the second ''shekiya'', which occurs three and a quarter mil after sunset. Then there is a duration of twilight of Rabbi Yehuda that is at most three quarters of a mil. For all purposes besides korbanot nighttime begins four mil after shekiya. This is also the understanding of most rishonim and Shulchan Aruch. This method would not allow relying on the emergence of stars method because the stars under discussion are subject to interpretation.<ref>The Bei'ur Halacha (293:1 s.v. ad cites the Minchat Cohen who is of the opinion that even Rabbeinu Tam, who holds that Shabbat should end 72 minutes after sunset (the time it takes to walk 4 mil), would concede that if three small stars in close proximity to each other are visible, Shabbat is over even if 72 minutes have not yet elapsed. This is in contrast to Rav Ovadia Yosef (Shu"t Yabia Omer 2:21) and the Orot HaChaim's opinion that Rabbeinu Tam and Shulchan Aruch are really stating the same position. The Orot HaChaim explains that the stars being mentioned in the Shulchan Aruch are ones that are closer to the western horizon where the sun sets, which apparently take longer to become visible.</ref> Those who rely upon that are described below. Rabbenu Tam's approach is subject to further debate as how to understand the time of four mil, whether it is measured in fixed minutes,<ref>Biur Halacha 261:2 s.v. sh'hu citing the Pri Megadim</ref> seasonal minutes (shaot zmaniyot),<ref>Biur Halacha 261:2 s.v. sh'hu citing Minchat Cohen and Biur Halacha concurs.</ref> or astronomical degrees. | ||
