Rosh HaYesiva, Har Bracha
Q: In our synagogue we finish the Minchaprayer of Erev Shabbatafter shkiya(sunset), especially during the winter. Is it preferable to pray Mincha b’yachid(alone) in order to fulfill the mitzvah of tosefet Shabbat(accepting the holiness of Shabbat upon ourselves a bit before the start of the seventh day) before shkiya, or to pray with the public and forgotosefet Shabbat?
The Mitzvah of Tosefet Shabbat
First I will explain that it is a mitzvah from the Torah to extend the sanctity of Shabbat into the mundane week (Yoma 81b; S. A. O. C. 261:2, and Biur Halakha). Kabbalat Shabbatis performed verbally, and women are accustomed to accept Shabbat with the lighting of candles and reciting the blessing over them.
This extension of Shabbat demonstrates that Shabbat is very dear to us. We go out to greet it before its arrival, and we prolong its stay by accompanying it upon departure. It is like an honored guest whom we go out to greet and whom we escort when it is time to take leave. This mitzvah teaches us that there is a connection between the weekdays and Shabbat, which is why we can add from the mundane to the sacred. We can also see, based on this, the inner striving of the mundane to be connected to the sacred.
In practice, the answer is divided into two – one for the individual, and another for the public (Peninei Halakha: Shabbat 3: 5, footnote 6).
First I will explain that it is a mitzvah from the Torah to extend the sanctity of Shabbat into the mundane week (Yoma 81b; S. A. O. C. 261:2, and Biur Halakha). Kabbalat Shabbatis performed verbally, and women are accustomed to accept Shabbat with the lighting of candles and reciting the blessing over them.
This extension of Shabbat demonstrates that Shabbat is very dear to us. We go out to greet it before its arrival, and we prolong its stay by accompanying it upon departure. It is like an honored guest whom we go out to greet and whom we escort when it is time to take leave. This mitzvah teaches us that there is a connection between the weekdays and Shabbat, which is why we can add from the mundane to the sacred. We can also see, based on this, the inner striving of the mundane to be connected to the sacred.
In practice, the answer is divided into two – one for the individual, and another for the public (Peninei Halakha: Shabbat 3: 5, footnote 6).
How an Individual Should Act
If one finished the Silent Prayer before shkiya, he can accept upon himself tosefet Shabbatby saying, “Bo’i kalla, Shabbat ha-malka” (“Enter O bride, O Shabbat queen”), by saying “Ani mekabel al atzmitosefet Shabbat” (“I hereby accept upon myself tosefet Shabbat“), or any other language expressing the acceptance of Shabbat, for the fact that the chazzan(cantor) has not yet completed the repetition of the Minchaprayer does not prevent him from accepting Shabbat.
And if he is also unable to finish the Silent Prayer before shkiya, l’chatchila(ideally), he should say the Minchaprayer beforehand individually, because some poskimare of the opinion that it is impossible to accept tosefet Shabbat and then recite the weekday Minchaprayer (S. A. 263; M.B. 43:60).
Bedi’avad(after the fact), if one was unable to pray beforehand, or in a situation where he prefers not to pray individually, he can accept tosefet Shabbatand then pray Mincha, relying on the poskimwho believe it is permissible to accept Shabbat and then pray the weekday Mincha(Tzitz Eliezer, Minchat Yitzchak, and according to Yabia Omer, one should accept Shabbat in thought).
If one finished the Silent Prayer before shkiya, he can accept upon himself tosefet Shabbatby saying, “Bo’i kalla, Shabbat ha-malka” (“Enter O bride, O Shabbat queen”), by saying “Ani mekabel al atzmitosefet Shabbat” (“I hereby accept upon myself tosefet Shabbat“), or any other language expressing the acceptance of Shabbat, for the fact that the chazzan(cantor) has not yet completed the repetition of the Minchaprayer does not prevent him from accepting Shabbat.
And if he is also unable to finish the Silent Prayer before shkiya, l’chatchila(ideally), he should say the Minchaprayer beforehand individually, because some poskimare of the opinion that it is impossible to accept tosefet Shabbat and then recite the weekday Minchaprayer (S. A. 263; M.B. 43:60).
Bedi’avad(after the fact), if one was unable to pray beforehand, or in a situation where he prefers not to pray individually, he can accept tosefet Shabbatand then pray Mincha, relying on the poskimwho believe it is permissible to accept Shabbat and then pray the weekday Mincha(Tzitz Eliezer, Minchat Yitzchak, and according to Yabia Omer, one should accept Shabbat in thought).
How the Public Should Act
Regarding the public, l’chatchila, the prayer should be set at the latest twenty minutes before shkiya, so that they can finish Mincha and accept Shabbat. Then, immediately after the end of Mincha, the gabbai should announce: “Bo’i kalla, Shabbat ha-malka“, and by doing so, everyone fulfills the mitzvah of tosefet Shabbat. But if they act like many synagogues do, who do not announce this and rely on the piyutof “Lecha Dodi” in which Shabbat is accepted, they will miss the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah.
Bedi’avad, when it is impossible to pray Minchaearlier, they should choose one or the other: either to recite a short prayer (without the complete repetition of the shaliach tzibbur), so that they will be able to announce the acceptance of Shabbat before shkiya, or before Mincha, the gabbaishould announce “Bo’i kalla, Shabbat ha-malka“, and rely on the poskimwho believe it is possible to pray the weekday Minchaafter accepting Shabbat (Tzitz Eliezer, Minchat Yitzchak). There is also an opinion that the gabbaishould announce that everyone should accept Shabbat upon himself in thought, and then recite the weekday Mincha (Yabia Omer).
Regarding the public, l’chatchila, the prayer should be set at the latest twenty minutes before shkiya, so that they can finish Mincha and accept Shabbat. Then, immediately after the end of Mincha, the gabbai should announce: “Bo’i kalla, Shabbat ha-malka“, and by doing so, everyone fulfills the mitzvah of tosefet Shabbat. But if they act like many synagogues do, who do not announce this and rely on the piyutof “Lecha Dodi” in which Shabbat is accepted, they will miss the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah.
Bedi’avad, when it is impossible to pray Minchaearlier, they should choose one or the other: either to recite a short prayer (without the complete repetition of the shaliach tzibbur), so that they will be able to announce the acceptance of Shabbat before shkiya, or before Mincha, the gabbaishould announce “Bo’i kalla, Shabbat ha-malka“, and rely on the poskimwho believe it is possible to pray the weekday Minchaafter accepting Shabbat (Tzitz Eliezer, Minchat Yitzchak). There is also an opinion that the gabbaishould announce that everyone should accept Shabbat upon himself in thought, and then recite the weekday Mincha (Yabia Omer).
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