[Avodah] FW: Waiting To Daven Ma'ariv On Shavuos

[David J Havin]

In Ashkenaz, Mincha and Ma’ariv on Shabbath and Yomtov were held separately,
with the latter being offered at nightfall.  However, during the weekdays
and on Erev Shabbath and Erev Yomtov, Mincha commenced approximately 1¼
hours before nightfall (without Aleinu) and Ma’ariv followed immediately
thereafter.

The counting of the Omer was an important Mitzvah.  Like many other
Mitzvoth, observance together with a Minyan gave a special meaning to it.
As one could not fulfill the counting of the Omer before it was completely
dark and as Ma’ariv finished before nightfall, many of the small rural
communities in Germany had fixed arrangements that a Minyan would meet at a
private home at the correct time to count the Omer.  As an aside, children
were encouraged to count the Omer and were rewarded on Shavuoth with a
special cake.

This was so even on Erev Shavuoth, whereas almost all Synagogues today wait
until nightfall so as to fulfil the obligation of counting seven complete
weeks (it being thought that starting Ma’ariv before nightfall would mean
that the last day of the Omer had been truncated).  However, it should be
noted that Kiddush was not recited at home until nightfall and this was
considered sufficient compliance with Temimos.

A full discussion of early Ma’ariv can be found in Professor Jacob Katz’s
masterful article “Alterations in the Time of the Evening Service (Ma’ariv):
An Example of the Interrelationship between Religious Customs and their
Social Background” which appears in his “Divine Law in Human Hands, Case
Studies in Halakhic Flexibility” (Magnes Press, 1998, pages 88-127).

DJH

 

From: Yitzchok Levine [mailto:Larry.Levine at stevens.edu] 
Sent: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 9:18 AM
To: David J Havin; AVODAH; 'Prof. Levine'
Subject: Re: FW: Waiting To Daven Ma'ariv On Shavuos

 

At 06:33 PM 5/18/2009, David J Havin wrote:



They waited on the first night of Shavuos because of Temimos.  I did not say
that they waited on other occasions.


So Temimos is important when it comes to Kiddush, but not when it comes to
Maariv. How are we to understand this?  To me it seems that it would apply
either to both or to neither.

YL