Several years ago, we have discussed that according to most Rishonim, every Jewish man and woman is obligated to accept upon themselves the sanctity of Shabbat even before sunset of Friday evening.
We must now explain that if it is forbidden to perform work even before sunset, it would seem that it is likewise forbidden to pray a weekday Mincha prayer after sunset on Erev Shabbat. Furthermore, it would seem that it should be forbidden to pray Mincha even several minutes before sunset in the synagogue and that the congregation should begin Mincha prayers at least twenty minutes before sunset so that the entire Mincha prayer will be concluded before sunset.
Indeed, most synagogues in the holy city of Jerusalem are careful to begin Mincha services on Erev Shabbat approximately twenty minutes before sunset. This is indeed an important custom, for only in this way will the congregation be able to begin Kabbalat Shabbat before sunset which is the correct procedure, as we have explained in the previous Halacha.
Nevertheless, in synagogues where the congregants arrive later than this or in a situation where a woman is praying at home and knows that if she begins now, she will finish after the sun has already set, there is room for leniency and they may conclude the Mincha prayer after sunset.
The reason why it is permissible to conclude Mincha prayers after sunset is that although it is forbidden to perform work too close to sunset of Erev Shabbat, nevertheless, the Mincha prayer is not included in this prohibition, for the essence of the addition onto Shabbat is abstaining from the works forbidden on Shabbat. Thus, continuing to pray and concluding Mincha prayers following sunset is indeed permissible.
Moreover, Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l writes that even if one wishes to verbally accept Shabbat (which is actually the proper thing to do when one is not accepting Shabbat by reciting “Bo’ee Kallah Shabbat Maleketa” or “Mizmor Shir Le’Yom Ha’Shabbat” before sunset), one may stipulate before doing so that one is hereby accepting Shabbat in all aspects besides for the fact that one should still be permitted to pray Mincha. One can even stipulate this once a year by saying that anytime one accepts Shabbat, one stipulates not accept the sanctity of Shabbat upon one’s self regarding praying Mincha.
It is nevertheless preferable to begin Mincha prayers approximately twenty minutes before sunset and then to immediately begin Kabbalat Shabbat such that the congregation will conclude the “Bameh Madlikin” chapter before sunset. If the congregation cannot do so, this chapter should be concluded no later than nightfall (approximately fifteen minutes past sunset).
Summary: Mincha prayers of Erev Shabbat should preferably be concluded before sunset. When necessary, the congregation may continue praying Mincha and conclude it after sunset. Nevertheless, regarding the prohibition to perform work, one is obligated to abstain from performing work several minutes before sunset, as we have established.
Based on this, the custom that certain synagogues observe that following Mincha, the congregation chants “Shir Ha’Shirim” and other Psalms and only afterwards begins Kabbalat Shabbat once nightfall has already arrived is not such a correct custom and it is proper for them to change their custom.
This is especially true in synagogues of Moroccan Jews. We have investigated the root of this custom and found that indeed, in Morocco, the custom was to read “Shir Ha’Shirim,” the Psalms of “Lechu Neranena” and others, and only then would the congregation begin “Lecha Dodi,” “Mizmor Shir Le’Yom Ha’Shabbat,” and the chapter of “Bameh Madlikin”. The reason behind this wonderful custom was because the congregation would begin Micha prayers much before sunset based on the testimony of the many Moroccan immigrants still living among us. However, the fact that some have continued this custom in Israel and other countries Moroccan Jews have emigrated to when Mincha prayers are held shortly before sunset is certainly not the authentic Moroccan custom.
It is proper for every synagogue to enact that “Lecha Dodi,” “Bameh Madlikin,” and “Mizmor Shir Le’Yom Ha’Shabbat” be recited by the congregation immediately following Mincha services and after this is done, the congregation may recite “Shir Ha’Shirim” and any other Psalms they wish.
