We previously discussed that there is a mitzvah of tosfos Shabbos – a mitzvah to add a few minutes both before and after Shabbos. It is therefore important to realize that it is not sufficient for people to ask on Friday: “what time is shkia?” since we must stop doing melacha a few minutes before Shabbos begins.
The same is true for the end of Shabbos. Nightfall is halachically night for all other halachos, such as reciting the shema and reading the megillah. But the end of Shabbbos is different and one must refrain from melacha after nightfall, for at least a few minutes. Therefore, it is not sufficient for one to ask: “when is Shabbos over?” because one is still not allowed to start doing melacha, for at least a few minutes.
For example, whenever it is halachically considered night – be it the 50 minute zman or the 72 minute zman – one must add a few minutes to that time, before doing melacha.
Accepting Shabbos Verbally or Mentally
But what exactly does a person need to do to add on to Shabbos, does he need to be “mekabeil Shabbos,” accept the Shabbos, or does it happen automatically, with the person’s input being unnecessary, just as Shabbos itself comes automatically?
The sefer Chelkas Yoav (O”C 30) writes that, in order to perform the mitzvah, one must accept upon himself the Shabbos verbally. He proves this from the text of the Ritva, who writes that the mitzvah must be done via an active kabbala. The Ritva also adds that one must actually recite the Shabbos davening or the text of Kiddush in order to add on to Shabbos. At first glance, this is also the opinion of the Mishna Berura (261:21).
Some poskim – the Panim Yafos, among others – require a person to be “mekabeil Shabbos,” but allow a mental kabala, without verbalizing it.
Shabbos Starts Automatically
However, many poskim – including the Derech Hachaim, the Shulchan Aruch Harav, and the Chayei Adam – write clearly that it is something automatic. As soon as a few minutes before Shabbos comes, the mitzvah of tosfos Shabbos begins, and no kabala is necessary. The Chofetz Chaim also writes this in his sefer Machnei Yisroel, a sefer he wrote for guiding Jewish soldiers in the army.
Although the Mishna Berura writes that one needs to be “mekabeil Shabbos,” he only writes that in the scenario when someone wishes to add on more than the minimum, and in order to add more, a kabala is necessary.
However, even according to the poskim that do not require an explicit acceptance of Shabbos, it is worthwhile to do so, because he will get a bigger mitzvah. For example, we have seen that we must stop doing melacha a few minutes before shkia, because Shabbos may be starting then. But according to Rabeinu Tam, Shabbos does not start yet, and his automatic starting of Shabbos will not begin until much later. But if one explicitly accepts upon himself Shabbos earlier, his mitzvah will certainly begin then, making his mitzvah so much greater.
In Conclusion
One must add a few minutes both before and after Shabbos. Most poskim rules that it comes automatically and one is not required to explicitly accept Shabbos. However, if someone explicitly accepts upon himself Shabbos earlier, his mitzvah will begin earlier and his mitzvah will be so much greater.
Rabbi Scheiner
