HHMI Newsgroup Archives

Subject:  Re: THE START OF SHABBAT
Date:     Mon, 9 Dec 1996 11:35:18+0000
From:     heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Reply-To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
To:       "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>

To:            heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject:       Re: THE START OF SHABBAT
From:           (Yehoshua M Othniel)

Shalom Rav Othniel

Herewith included an article about the historical background of when a
day commences. (Note: I've removed the article for my reply. I would be
happy to re-post it for anyone who may wish to read it over. Y.M.O.) This subject
has been under discussion for many decades.

Please give me your views on the content.  Please don't be hasty in your
reply. I know you are very busy. Is there any historical background on
this "controversy" in the Talmud? If so, where?

Shalom
Ya'acov

*****************************************************************

Bokare tov Ya'acov,

I finally had a chance to read in depth your question and the attached
article.  I had been pondering how to respond and then the L-rd
brought something to mind.  First let me give you my thoughts about
the subject.

If someone were to ask me when the day begins,  I'd have to ask them in
what context are they speaking.  If they're asking the question in a
Jewish context,  i.e. when does Shabbat begin, I'd give them the
standard answer, at sunset.

If the person asking the question was asking it in the context of the
civil (secular) sense.  I'd say the new day begins at Midnight and
ends the following Midnight.

If I were asked when my day begins,  that would be more difficult to
answer.  I keep some strange hours so I might give various answers.
I might say my day begins when I'm dressed and ready to walk to the
Post Office to check for congregational mail.  Or I might say that my
day begins when my eyes open and I'm mentally functional, (this is
usually after I've had my second cup of black coffee.)  Seriously,
the answer to this question tends to be relative.

If you were to ask me,  when do Jews consider the day to begin, I'd
have to again ask you to be more specific.  In ancient times when the
Temple stood,  the work day for the Cohanim and the Levites began
just before dawn as they prepared to discharge their respective
duties in the Beit Ha'Kodesh, (The Holy House).

If you are asking me do I think the reckoning of time was changed from
the time before the Babylonian captivity to the time of the second Temple
period, I'd have  to say maybe and probably.

Now let me share what I believe the L-rd brought to mind as I was
reading over the conflicting arguments being put forth by various scholars...

"But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, quarrels and fights
about the Torah; because they are worthless and futile."

Titus 3:9,

(Jewish New Testament).

The scholars can argue all they want as to when the Sabbath really
begins, the outcome will have no affect on the issue of man's salvation.

As for me and my  house,  we'll continue to keep the Sabbath from
sunset to sunset as has been done for close to two millennium by Jews
the world over.

Rabbi O.

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