one must say Krias Shema after nightfall before making Kiddush.
Those who have the Minhag of always Davening Maariv after Tzeis Hakochavim, do not need to change their custom. However, they should still Daven at the earliest possible time and hurry home immediately after Davening ends.
Other Opinions and Scope for Leniency
The following are additional insights on the topic which present more lenient opinions.
The Beis Yosef quotes the Raavad, that when the Gemara says that one concludes the fast on Erev Shabbos, it means only until the beginning of Shkiya. This time is already is already considered an extension of Shabbos and one cannot fast any longer.
Whilst we do not follow the Raavad and rather fast until nightfall, the Raavad’s opinion is referenced in Piskei Dinim of the Tzemach Tzedek - Laws of Fast Days, as basis for leniency.
There is a second Teshuvah of the Mahari”l concerning fasting on Erev Shabbos. He writes that for personal fasts “my custom is to fast until after Maariv like the Maharam”. However, for communal fasts, he writes “I am personally stringent to complete the fast (until nightfall)... but for others I say דעבד כמר עבד ודעבד כמר עבד - let them follow whichever opinion they wish”.
This seems to suggest that even for public fasts, one may eat after Davening Maariv early. He concludes that the main things is to have intent Lshem Shamayim.
Knesses Hagedolah quotes Sefer Chassidim who writes “When a fast falls on Friday and they read Veychal at Mincha, it is preferable not to Daven Maariv while it is still day and eat immediately. Rather one should delay and not complete (the fast) – ולא ישלים.
It is difficult to understand this Sefer Chassidim which seems self-contradictory. If one should not complete the fast, why not Daven early while it is still day? Perhaps he is saying that while one should not complete the fast, they should still delay their eating until a later time (before Shabbos comes in).
Again, the Halacha does not follow these lenient opinions in relation to communal fast days.
Nonetheless, based on these opinions, as well as the practise of Rabbeinu Yitzchak discussed last week, some Poskim write that there is room to
- See Tehillah Ledovid
- The Raavad follows the Shitah of Rabbeinu Tam that the sunset over the horizon is only the beginning of Shkiya and not the time that Shabbos comes in. Nonetheless it is the time of Tosefes Shabbos and therefore one no longer fasts.
- Siman 157. The Ram”o does not source this responsa, but rather follows the Mahari’s earlier Teshuvah.
- OC 249
- Siman 190. Other editions of the Sefer Chassidim have this in Siman
- Our editions of Sefer Chassidim read ולהשלים – and they should complete the fast.
- Nitei Gavriel Volume Chanukah Teshuvah Siman 14
- Parshas Vayigash 5749
