I live in NJ. Shabbat now starts around 7:10PM. Very soon the time for Kabalat Shabbat will be very late, and in order not to miss Oneg Shabbat at home, the shuls will have early Mincha. I was trying to undestand what the Halacha is saying. I read the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda and Chachamim and "DeAvad Kemar Avad..." but reading the Mishna Beirurah in different places, and reading other peirushim I became very confused about what is Mutar and Asur regarding the time of Mincha and Arvit. Can we daven Mincha in winter after plag, and in Summer before plag? can we make it simple - Mincha at 7:00 PM? (Plag here is at 7:02 PM today, and Shekia at 7:22 PM)
Thanks,
Aaron Gal, Fair Lawn, New Jersey USA
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 233:1) says that one should always follow either the opinion of the Chachamim or that of Rabbi Yehudah, which according to the Magen Avraham means that you shouldn't change from one day to the next your Minhag (and all the more so on the same day). Nevertheless, the Magen Avraham (OC 267:1) says that even if one always follows the opinion of the Chachamim, on Erev Shabbos he may follow the opinion of Rabbi Yehudah and daven Maariv early. The reason he gives is that Maariv was instituted in place of the placing of the Eimurim of the Korbanos on the Mizbeach at night, and on the night of Shabbos this is forbidden so it is appropriate to daven Maariv early on Erev Shabbos. (The Mishnah Berurah brings the opinion of the Derech ha'Chayim that the Tzibur is even allowed to daven both Minchah and Maariv during Plag ha'Minchah because there are places that do this even during the week. The Mishnah Berurah rejects this opinion.)
Kol Tuv,
Yonasan Sigler