[Avodah] Waiting to Daven Maariv On Shavuous Night

[Prof. Levine]

I just had a phone conversation with a friend of mine. He says that 
R. Ovadia Yosef talks about davening early on Erev Shavuous and also 
sites many sources, including Ashkenazic ones, that permit it. He 
also says that Rabbi Dr. Dovid Tzvi Hoffman was asked about this 
during WW I when daylight savings time was first introduced in 
Germany. R. Hoffman replied that since it is the custom to count 
sefira before Tzeis (my friend says that this was the practice in 
many places in Europe) then there is no need to wait to daven Maariv 
and make Kiddush after Tzeis on Erev Shavuous.

He is supposed to get me the actual sources.  I do not have the 
seforim he referred to. (He said that R. Ovadia Yosef is particularly 
valuable because "He knows everything and cites everything.")

He also pointed out that Baer in his siddur makes absolutely no 
mention of waiting to daven Maariv on Erev Shavuous until after 
Tzeis. He says his not mentioning this means that this was the 
practice in Europe in most places.

He then made another point which I think is very telling.

There are opinions that allow one to daven early and even make 
Kiddush early. Also, waiting to daven after Tzeis is a D'Rabbonon. 
However, simchas Yom Tov is a D'oreisa. Most people do not enjoy 
beginning to eat at say 9:30. For kids it is particularly difficult. 
Therefore, davening after Tzeis and then beginning to eat late 
conflicts with the simchas Yom Tov of many. How can this D'Rabbonon 
take precedence over simchas Yom Tov?

Yitzchok Levine 
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