Kabalas Shabbos and Mincha
Can a person daven Mincha after he was mekabel Shabbos?
We have seen that the poskim write that women should be sure to daven mincha before candle lighting, when they accept Shabbos. What about the men? If we have to be mekabel Shabbos a few minutes before sunset, can we still daven mincha after that?
Men – Davening Mincha after accepting Shabbos
The poskim affirm that one should not be mekabel Shabbos before davening Mincha. What then is the correct procedure for one who davens Mincha right before shkia? How can one daven Mincha and still fulfill the Mitzvah of tosfos Shabbos?
This question was posed by the Imrei Emes to the Eretz Tzvi, while they were together in the resort town of Krenitz. The Eretz Tzvi responded that at home he had written about this question and upon his return he would send to the Imrei Emes what he had written up on the topic. In a lengthy teshuva, he discusses this question and the various options that one has.
One option is as follows: A person should be mekabel Shabbos before sunset, with a stipulation, that he is doing so if the halacha requires him to do so, and then he will still be able to daven Mincha. His reasoning is that when it comes to the Mitzvah Min Hatorah of tosfos Shabbos, we want to fulfill the mitzvah according to all opinions, so we are mekabel Shabbos before shkia. But when it comes to davening Mincha, we rely on those who allow davening after shkia.
The only reason for accepting Shabbos before sunset is if sunset is the cutoff point, which is the opinion of the Geonim and the Gra. However, according to Rabeinu Ta m, the cutoff point is much later and one can be mekabel Shabbos long after sunset. Therefore, one can be mekabel Shabbos before davening Mincha, with the following stipulation: if the halacha is that shkia is the cutoff point, then he is being mekabel Shabbos before shkia. But, if the halacha is like Rabeinu Ta m, then he is not mekabel Shabbos until later on.
By making this stipulation, one will have fulfilled the mitzvah of tosfos Shabbos, according to all opinions. But he can still daven Mincha, because Mincha is a rabbinical mandate and there is more room to be lenient and rely on the later opinion. He adds that it would suffice for one to make this stipulation one time for his whole life.
If Someone was Mekabel Shabbos
If someone was mekabel Shabbos, is there any solution for him to still be allowed to daven Mincha? The sefer Shvus Yitzchak (17:6) writes, in the name of Rav Elyashiv that one can make hataras nedarim. This is based on the innovation of the Levush who posits that since Shabobs did not actually start, and it is merely based on one’s resolution, it has the halachic status of a neder, which can be nullified with hataras nedarim.
Although many poskim take issue with this ruling of the Levush, in general, when it comes to someone who forgot to daven Mincha, Rav Elyashiv ruled that one can rely on the Levush. However, the sefer Shmiras Shabbos Kihilchasah (46:11) writes that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was in doubt if we should rely on the Levush and make hataras nedarim in order to daven Mincha.
Saying “Good Shabbos”
In fact, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach took this a step further. Tshuvos V’hanhagos writes that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach refrained from saying: “Good Shabbos” on his way to shul before Mincha. This is based on the statement made by Rav Akiva Eiger that it is possible that one can fulfill his obligation (Min Hatorah) of Kiddush by merely saying “Good Shabbos.” That being the case, if one wishes someone “Good Shabbos,” it can be considered kabalas Shabbos, accepting the Shabbos, and may be a problem to do so before davening Mincha.
However, the Tshuvos V’hanhagos maintains that this should not be an issue. When someone wishes “Good Shabbos” before Shabbos begins, his intention is to wish the other person that he should have a good Shabbos – when Shabbos comes – but he has no intention of accepting Shabbos.
In Conclusion
A man should not be mekabel Shabbos before davening Mincha. If he was mekabel, some say that he can make hataras nedarim and daven Mincha. It is better to finish Mincha before the time of tosfos Shabbos, but some allow a stipulation, and rely on Rabeinu Ta m, that the time for kabalas Shabbos is later.
Rabbi Scheiner
