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A Parasha & Halacha Shiur for Parashat VaYetze by Rabbi Moshe Medresh
“And [Yaakov] reached the place, and slept there, as the sun set…” The Gemara in Berachot brings a debate whether the Tefillot were instituted by the Avot or correspond the Korbanot. This verse, according to the Gemara, implies that Yaakov instituted Tefilla.
The Gemara discusses the time of Arvit and Minha. According to Hachamim, Minha can be prayed until sunset and Arvit from then on, and according to Ribbi Yehuda the cutoff is P’lag HaMinha (1¼ Halachic hours before sunset). Tosafot explain that the P’lag HaMinha time corresponds to the bringing of the Ketoret.
The Gemara concludes that one may choose to follow either the opinion of Hachamim or that of Ribbi Yehuda. However, the Shulhan Aruch says that one can’t choose conflicting opinions, as per the Rishonim in Berachot (although in Bet Yosef, Maran seems to be more lenient). Accordingly, if one prayed Minha after P’lag HaMinha then they should wait until after sunset before praying Arvit. The Mishna Berurah says that one must choose an opinion to follow on all days (and not just that they shouldn’t conflict on a specific day…). If one is in pressing need he may choose conflicting opinions – but not on the same day.
However, there are many synagogues that pray MInha and Arvit in conflicting “time zones”. This Minhag is discussed in the Poskim and the reason they give is that it can become very hard to gather people at other times for both prayers and because it is a rabbinic and not Biblical matter, there is room to be lenient. There is also room to rely on the Rambam who writes that one can pray Arvit early on Motzae Shabbat because it is not on the same level of obligation as Minha and Shaharit (Ein Medakdekin BiZmana – we are not particular about its timing).
On Friday afternoon, the Magen Avraham writes that all agree that one can pray Arvit early, because all of the parts of the Korban which correspond to Arvit (the Eivarim and Pedarim – limbs and fats) of Friday’s Korban must be brought before Shabbat.