When Does Shabbat End?: Difference between revisions
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The Vilna Goan (Gra)<ref>Biur HaGra OC 261:12</ref> explained that the Gemara Pesachim 94a was merely describing a time of night for when travelers could no longer travel. However, for halachic purposes nightfall begins after the twilight, which is three quarters mil. Similarly, this interpretation is subject to further debate as how to understand the time of four mil, whether it is measured in seasonal minutes (shaot zmaniyot) or astronomical degrees. No one who accepts the opinion of the Gra assumes that it is fixed minutes.<ref>Gra 261:12 at the beginning notes that all of the times in the Gemara are all according to the sun appears on the horizon in Bavel and it would need to be extrapolated to the rest of the world. Biur Halacha 261:2 s.v. sh'hu in citing the Gra, Magen Avraham, and Minchat Cohen clearly and explicitly interprets that the Gra would voche for shaot zmaniyot, seasonal minutes. However, based on Rabbi Belsky [https://www.myzmanim.com/read/degrees.aspx myzmanim.com ("Degrees" accessed August 5 2020)] there is another approach that calculates the times for the Vilna Goan based on degrees below horizon. As opposed to shaot zmaniyot which takes into account the season or the year, degrees below horizon takes into account the latitude of location in question, though not the longitude or season of the year. This is also the view of [https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/857432/rabbi-hershel-schachter/halachos-associated-with-zmanei-hayom/ Rav Hershel Schachter (Halachos Associated with Zmanim, min 72-74)] and Rabbi Levy in Zmanim Bhalacha. | The Vilna Goan (Gra)<ref>Biur HaGra OC 261:12</ref> explained that the Gemara Pesachim 94a was merely describing a time of night for when travelers could no longer travel. However, for halachic purposes nightfall begins after the twilight, which is three quarters mil. Similarly, this interpretation is subject to further debate as how to understand the time of four mil, whether it is measured in seasonal minutes (shaot zmaniyot) or astronomical degrees. No one who accepts the opinion of the Gra assumes that it is fixed minutes.<ref>Gra 261:12 at the beginning notes that all of the times in the Gemara are all according to the sun appears on the horizon in Bavel and it would need to be extrapolated to the rest of the world. Biur Halacha 261:2 s.v. sh'hu in citing the Gra, Magen Avraham, and Minchat Cohen clearly and explicitly interprets that the Gra would voche for shaot zmaniyot, seasonal minutes. However, based on Rabbi Belsky [https://www.myzmanim.com/read/degrees.aspx myzmanim.com ("Degrees" accessed August 5 2020)] there is another approach that calculates the times for the Vilna Goan based on degrees below horizon. As opposed to shaot zmaniyot which takes into account the season or the year, degrees below horizon takes into account the latitude of location in question, though not the longitude or season of the year. This is also the view of [https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/857432/rabbi-hershel-schachter/halachos-associated-with-zmanei-hayom/ Rav Hershel Schachter (Halachos Associated with Zmanim, min 72-74)] and Rabbi Levy in Zmanim Bhalacha. | ||
*Zmanim KHalacha p. 43 quotes Hacham Ovadia as holding that the minutes for [[Alot HaShachar]] 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 Peirush HaMishnah to 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 in 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> | *Zmanim KHalacha p. 43 quotes Hacham Ovadia as holding that the minutes for [[Alot HaShachar]] do not depend on location but rather shaot zmaniyot. Orchot Maran v. 3 pp. 326-335 records and disccuses this position of Hacham Ovadia. 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 Peirush HaMishnah to 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 in 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> | ||
===Rav Tukachinsky's Approach=== | ===Rav Tukachinsky's Approach=== | ||
