Krias Shma after an early maariv Erev Shabbos

Answer: The Mishnah[1] quotes a disagreement between the Chachamim and Rabbi Yehuda about when is the (earliest) time to say קריאת שמע and daven maariv. The Chachamim are of the opinion that it starts from nightfall (the emergence of the night stars -צאת הכוכבים) Rabbi Yehuda holds that it starts from פלג המנחה .(In short halachically we break up the afternoon into 3 parts מנחה גדולה, מנחה קטנה, פלג המנחה. the period from מנחה קטנה  until צאת is divided in half which is called  פלג המנחה e.g. during the time of the year when the day light is 12 hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the afternoon stating at 12p.m. so פלג המנחה would be 4:30 p.m.).

The halacha[2] follows the opinion of the Chachamim. And if one davened maariv earlier they would have to say שמע again at  [3]צאת הכוכבים .

In the last few centuries when people gathered in shul even at night the custom has been established to daven  [4]בזמנה. However in certain קהלות אשכנז and also in some Chabad houses so times when צאת is very late (in the summer), they daven maariv on Erev Shabbos before שקיעה and say שמע again at צאת .(It should be noted that one may have to stop eating a half hour before צאת in such cases[5]).

The question would be for someone who usually davens on time, but this week the only minyan he has is at this early time, should he daven and say Shma with the minyan or wait to daven  בזמנה but without a minyan?

The suggestion of the poskim[6] is to daven only שמונה עשרה with the minyan and say Shma later with the brochas after צאת הכוכבים.

During the days on sefira, the minyan as a whole should wait to count till at least שקיעה, and if one counted earlier then he has to recount after צאת without a brocha[7].


Daily inspiration:


One of the limitations of this finite world is time. Yet it’s an instrument for change and growth. We can expect a better future, overcome struggles, forget the undesirable memories, and forgive the wrongs of the past. Yet we have to appreciate that there is a right time for everything.      


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[1] ברכות פ"ד מ"א
[2] שו"ע סי' רל"ה סעי' א
[3] שם
[4] עי' בשו"ת אדה"ז סימן ז' בסופו, ובמשנ"ב רל"ה:י"ב
[5] עי' שוע"ר סי' רס"ז:ד, ובקנ"א שם, שו"ע סי' רל"ה שם,ובמשנ"ב שם ס"ק י"ט ושער ציון סקכ"ה
[6] שמשעות שוע"ר סי' רס"ז שם, ובמשנ"ב רל"ה:י"ב, ועי' בבאור הלכה שם ד"ה ואם
[7] שוע"ר סי' תפ"ט:י"ב