Fasting and Enjoying Shabbos
Enjoying Shabbos is a central feature in Shabbos observance. Spending the first hour or so of Shabbos ravenously hungry seems to contradict this mitzvah. This question is especially relevant to inhabitants of the Southern Hemisphere, where the 10th of Teves can be a very long, hot day.
This question was debated among the Tanoim (Eruvin 41a) – does one have to fast until the stars come out (tzeis hakochavim) on Shabbos following a public a fast day, or can one perhaps eat a little before sundown on Friday so as not to enter Shabbos suffering. The Rishonim are divided on the matter.
In practice, the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 249:4) rules that every fast day ends with tzeis hakochavim. However, the Rema quotes the opinions that require every Friday fast, whether public or private, to end a shortly before Shabbos. The Rema ruled that a private fast on Friday should indeed, end a short time before Shabbos (one should preferably declare that his private fast will only last until plag hamincha — approximately 1:15 hours before sunset. However, a public fast day should not end until tzeis hakochavim on the Friday night following the fast.
If necessary, “early Shabbos” can be done this Friday, and should be carried out as follows: Ma’ariv can be recited after plag hamincha to allow the congregation to return home before the end of the fast. Then they will be able to begin kiddush immediately at tzeis hakochavim without delay. Mincha, however, should be davened before plag hamincha (even though, in most communities in Eretz Yisroel birkas kohanim would not be recited), and the congregants should be careful not to forget to recite krias shema again after tzeis hakochavim.
After the fast’s conclusion, one should hurry to make kiddush. The Mishnah Berurah (417:4) quotes the Rema of Pano as encouraging one who fasts on erev Rosh Chodesh to hurry and eat after tzeis hakochavim so as not to remain on Rosh Chodesh in a state of suffering. If this is true on Rosh Chodesh, we can learn a fortiori regarding Shabbos.
Some chassidim have the custom to refrain from reciting kiddush in the first hour of Shabbos because at this time mazal ma’adim (the zodiac sign of Mars/Jupiter) rules. Followers of this custom either daven Ma’ariv after plag hamincha and then make kiddush early, or daven after tzeis hakochavim and delay kiddush until after the first hour of Shabbos. This week, members of these communities recite kiddush immediately after Ma’ariv even though it is the first hour of Shabbos, so as not to suffer unnecessarily on Shabbos (See Ohr Yisroel 5766, edition 42, page 208).
Those who are especially hungry can recite kiddush as soon as the fast is over and postpone the singing of “shalom aleichem” and other preliminary zemiros for later in the meal (Nitei Gavriel, Chanukah siman 63).
It is permitted to wash one’s mouth, such as with mouthwash, before reciting kiddush (Mishnah Berurah 271:13).
More About “Shalom Aleichem”
The minhag Yisroel is to sing “Shalom Aleichem” when returning home from shul on Friday night. When Asorah B’Teves falls on Friday, should one start with “Shalom Aleichem” or should he go straight to kiddush. It would seem obvious that if there is a risk of shalom bayis, then certainly shalom of the house comes before shalom of the malochim. However, what if the household members want...
