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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman רצ"ג · 3 Seifim
Maariv of motzaei Shabbat — to discover and understand
סימן רצ"ג
דִּין עַרְבִית בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת
🌱 Beginner Level · מתחילים
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First approach to Siman רצ"ג: full Hebrew text of the Mechaber, clear English translation, pedagogical explanations of halachic concepts, modern practical cases and summary.
Topic: Maariv of motzaei Shabbat
Source: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim siman רצ"ג (3 seifim)
Compiled by: Rav Yossef Haim Samama
DAAT · daattorah.com
📑 Study Plan
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the 3 seifim of the Mechaber
2. The general context
3. Key halachic concepts
4. Detailed seifim
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
6. The position of the Rema
7. Modern practical applications
8. Practical summary
9. Review questions
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch
Siman רצ"ג contains 3 seifim of the Mechaber which codify the halachos relating to maariv of motzaei Shabbat.
Seif א — Delay Maariv to add chol onto kodesh
דיני ערבית במוצאי שבת. ובו ג סעיפים:
מאחרין תפלת ערבית כדי להוסיף מחול על הקודש:
Translation: "We delay the tefillah of Maariv [of motzaei Shabbat] in order to add chol onto kodesh (the mundane onto the holy, i.e. extending the kedushah of Shabbat into the chol that follows)."
Principle of tosefes Shabbat at the exit: just as we enter Shabbat a little earlier ("mosif me-chol al ha-kodesh" on Friday evening), we exit it a little later (likewise). Maariv of motzaei Shabbat is therefore delayed, after the astronomical end of Shabbat, to extend the kedushah.
Seif ב — 3 small close-together stars
צריך ליזהר מלעשות מלאכה עד שיראו שלשה כוכבים קטנים ולא יהיו מפוזרים אלא רצופים ואם הוא יום המעונן ימתין עד שיצא הספק מלבו:
Translation: "One must be careful not to do melachah until 3 small stars are seen, which are not scattered but close together. And if the day is cloudy, he should wait until the doubt leaves his heart."
Astronomical criterion for the end of Shabbat (tzeis ha-kochavim):
- Minimum 3 stars (not one, not two).
- Small stars (not the big planets of early evening like Venus).
- Close together (not scattered across the sky) — sign of advanced darkness.
- Cloudy day: wait clearly longer than the theoretical astronomical end.
Seif ג — Bedi'eved case: early Maariv for a mitzvah
מי שהוא אנוס כגון שצריך להחשיך על התחום לדבר מצוה יכול להתפלל של מוצאי שבת מפלג המנחה ולמעלה ולהבדיל מיד אבל לא יברך על הנר וכן אסור בעשיית מלאכה עד צאת הכוכבים: הגה ונוהגים לומר והוא רחום וברכו באריכות נועם כדי להוסיף מחול על הקודש (א"ז):
Translation: "One who is anus (forced) — for example if he must wait until nightfall at the edge of the techum (= beyond 2000 amos) for a devar mitzvah — he may daven Maariv of motzaei Shabbat from plag haminchah (1¼ halachic hours before sunset), and make Havdalah immediately. But he shall not bless on the candle, and it is forbidden for him to do melachah until tzeis ha-kochavim. Rema: And it is customary to say Ve-hu rachum and Barchu with a long melody (be-arichus no'am), in order to add chol onto kodesh (Or Zarua)."
Exceptional case: early Maariv at Shabbat departure.
- Criterion: ones + devar mitzvah (force majeure for a mitzvah).
- Permitted: daven Maariv from plag haminchah (=1¼ hours before sunset in halachic hours).
- Immediate Havdalah.
- But 2 restrictions:
- No berachah on the candle (real darkness needed for borei meorei ha-eish).
- Melachah forbidden until tzeis ha-kochavim (the astronomical end remains binding).
Ve-hu rachum + Barchu be-arichus no'am (Rema): at the start of Maariv of motzaei Shabbat (just before Barchu), we say Ve-hu rachum (Tehillim 78:38) then Barchu with a long sweet melody — so that Shabbat "spills over" a bit into the week. Ashkenazi minhag codified in the Or Zarua.
Full text: these 3 seifim constitute the entire codification of the Mechaber on this topic. Each specifies a case, condition, or exception.
2. The general context
What does this siman discuss?
Our siman codifies the transition between Shabbat and the week — Maariv of motzaei Shabbat. The central principle: mosifin me-chol al ha-kodesh ("adding chol onto kodesh"). That is, delaying the exit of Shabbat to extend its kedushah.
Tosefes Shabbat — entrance and exit:
- Friday evening: we enter Shabbat before tzeis ha-kochavim (≈ shkiah + a few min).
- Motzaei Shabbat: we exit later (tzeis ha-kochavim + a few min, ideally Rabbeinu Tam ≈ 72 min).
Place in Hilchos Shabbat
- Siman 291-292 — Seudah shlishis, Minchah Shabbat
- Siman 293 — Maariv motzaei Shabbat (our siman)
- Siman 294 — Havdalah in tefillah ("Atah chonantanu")
- Siman 295-300 — Havdalah on wine, end of Shabbat
3. Key halachic concepts
1. תוספת שבת (tosefes Shabbat): adding mundane time onto Shabbat's kedushah — at entry and exit.
2. מוסיף מחול על הקודש: "adding chol onto kodesh" — rabbinic principle to delay Maariv in order to extend Shabbat. But also: extending the melachah prohibition beyond strict astronomy.
3. שלשה כוכבים קטנים (3 small stars): astronomical criterion for night (=end of Shabbat). Small (not planets), close together (density), visible to the naked eye.
4. פלג המנחה (plag haminchah): 1¼ halachic hours before sunset. The time when, in cases of ones, one may anticipate Maariv.
5. תחום שבת (techum Shabbat): 2000 amos (≈ 1 km) beyond the city — limit of movement on Shabbat. Going beyond = rabbinic melachah.
6. דבר מצוה (devar mitzvah): need of a mitzvah justifying the anticipation of Shabbat's end (e.g. bris milah, indirect saving of a life, receiving a great Rav).
7. והוא רחום וברכו באריכות נועם: Ashkenazi minhag to prolong Ve-hu rachum and Barchu with melody at the start of Maariv motzaei Shabbat — to extend kedushah through song.
4. Overview of the 3 seifim
| Seif | Topic | Halacha |
|---|---|---|
| א | Delay Maariv | To add chol onto kodesh |
| ב | Criterion for end of Shabbat | 3 small close stars; cloudy day: wait more |
| ג | Case of ones | Plag haminchah + immediate Havdalah, no candle, melachah forbidden until tzeis; Rema: Ve-hu rachum + Barchu prolonged |
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
The Mishnah Berurah counts 10 entries on this siman. Here are the first:
משנה ברורה (א) — (א) מאחרין וכו' - היינו אף דמן הדין סגי במה שיתעכב מלעשות מלאכה עד הזמן המבואר בס"ב מ"מ לכתחלה ראוי ונכון וכן מנהג כל ישראל לאחר את התפלה כדי שיתוסף יותר מחול על הקודש. המנהג לזמר קודם מעריב המזמור אלהים יחננו [תהלים ס"ו] ועוד מזמורים כנזכר בסידורים. ואם יחול ת"ב במוצאי שבת אין מזמרין דאז אין זמן חנינה. וכן כשיחול יו"ט במו"ש ג"כ אין המנהג לזמר. כתב הפמ"ג דאפשר משום דאין אומרים תחנה בשבת ויו"ט משא"…
משנה ברורה (ב) — (ב) מלעשות מלאכה - עיין לקמן בסימן רצ"ט ס"י:
משנה ברורה (ג) — (ג) עד שיראו - וקודם לכן אסור משום ספק יום ומדינא סגי בג' כוכבים בינונים אלא שאין אנו בקיאין בזה ושמא הן גדולים הנראין ביום לכן אנו מצריכין קטנים:
For the full text of all 10 entries, consult Sefaria: Mishnah Berurah 293.
6. The position of the Rema
The Rema generally clarifies the Ashkenazi nuances vis-à-vis the Sefardi Mechaber.
The Rema's addition in this siman:
- Seif ג: Ashkenazi minhag to say Ve-hu rachum and Barchu with a long melody (be-arichus no'am) — to add chol onto kodesh through song. Minhag codified by the Or Zarua.
7. Modern practical applications
| Situation | Practical halacha |
|---|---|
| Ideal time of Maariv motzaei Shabbat | Ideally about 10-15 min after tzeis ha-kochavim (per luach). Many shuls follow the "Rabbeinu Tam" zman (≈ 72 min after shkiah). |
| Doing melachah before tzeis | Forbidden. Always wait for 3 small stars. If cloudy: wait even more. |
| Late Bris Milah motzaei Shabbat | If one must travel beyond the techum — case of ones (seif ג); one may anticipate Maariv + Havdalah, but without candle and without melachah. |
| Mizmor "Elohim Yechonenu" | Ashkenazi minhag to sing Tehillim 67 before Maariv motzaei Shabbat (MB). Except if motzaei Shabbat = Tisha b'Av or Yom Tov (no "chaninah"). |
| Exit of Shabbat by plane / travel | Follow the luach of the place where one finds himself at the end of Shabbat. Consult a Rav for borderline cases. |
| Summer: Shabbat ends very late (10pm+) | One must still wait for tzeis ha-kochavim. No leniency due to fatigue. |
| Woman wanting to start cooking early | Forbidden before tzeis ha-kochavim. Even at home. |
| Exit via phone / luach app | OK to check times. But observation of stars remains the strict halachic criterion. |
Practical rule: motzaei Shabbat = strictly respect the 3 stars. And even with ones (seif ג), melachah remains forbidden until tzeis. Only tefillah and Havdalah can be anticipated.
8. Practical summary of the Siman
The 5 key teachings of Siman רצ"ג:
- Delay Maariv motzaei Shabbat — to "add chol onto kodesh."
- Criterion: 3 small close-together stars — never before.
- Case of ones: Maariv + Havdalah from plag haminchah — but without candle and melachah forbidden until tzeis.
- Ve-hu rachum + Barchu with long melody (Rema, Or Zarua) — to extend Shabbat in song.
- Mizmor "Elohim Yechonenu" (Tehillim 67) before Maariv — Ashkenazi minhag (except Tisha b'Av).
9. Review questions
Check your understanding:
- Why is Maariv of motzaei Shabbat delayed? What is the source of the principle?
- What is the precise astronomical criterion for the end of Shabbat?
- What to do on a cloudy day?
- In what case can one anticipate Maariv motzaei Shabbat? What restrictions?
- What does Ve-hu rachum + Barchu be-arichus no'am mean?
- What mizmorim do Ashkenazim sing before Maariv motzaei Shabbat, and why not on Tisha b'Av?
To go further
If you want to deepen this siman:
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