Halachic Times for Jerusalem Winter (Standard) Time
Correct for TT #504

Ranges are for THU-THU, 11 Shvat - 18 Shvat 5762 (January 24 '02 - January 31 '02) For sunrise and sunset, first time takes into account the elevation above sea level of Jerusalem, 825m (the times in parentheses do not take elevation into account). For the deadlines of Shma and Shacharit, the first times are according to the GR"A, the day being reckoned from sunrise to sunset. (The times in parentheses are according to the Magen Avraham, the day being reckoned from dawn to stars-out.) 

Candle lighting - 4:31pm (Earliest - 4:01pm) 

Havdala - 5:48pm 

(Rabbeinu Tam - 6:20pm) 

Earliest Shacharit 5:44-5:41am 

Sunrise 6:37-6:33am 

Sof Z'man Kri'at Sh'ma 9:14-9:12am (8:27-8:26am) 

Sof Z'man Shacharit 10:06-10:06am (9:35-9:35am) 

Chatzot (halachic noon) 11:51-11:52½am 

Mincha Gedola (earliest Mincha) 12:22-12:23pm 

Plag Mincha 4:00 - 4:05½pm 

Sunset 5:11-5:17pm (5:06-5:12pm) 

It's About Time... Again 

Time for another look at the Halachic times on the front page. There are some slight changes. Once upon a time, we used charts and books of tables to select the times to list each week. For several years now, we've been using a computer program called HAZON SHAMAYIM that has undergone many version updates, from the old DOS versions to Windows to more an more shaping and polishing and improving. 

A wonderful fringe benefit of my use of this program has been the many telephone conversations (we have yet to meet face-to-face) with Rav Eitan Zakuni of Netivot. He has been very helpful in fine-tuning my understanding of different opinions as to how to compute Halachic Z'manim, as well as confusing me beyond help about the same issues. 

Before I continue, let me recommend that anyone serious about the study of Halachic Z'manim give Rav Eitan a call and consider buying his program and Sefer on part of Rambam's Hilchot Kiddush HaChodesh. His number is 08-994-5621 and is most reachable after about 8:30pm. 

Based on our most recent conversations, I have decided to modify some of what is presented on the front page. 

A most interesting issue for Yerushalayim (which would apply in many other places in Israel and around the world, but it seems that Jerusalem is the main place of concern) is whether sunrise and/or sunset is to take into consideration Jerusalem's elevation above sea level or not. A location's latitude and longitude are major factors for determining Halachic times. What role, if any, elevation should play is another matter. 

In theory, the higher above sea level one is, the earlier he can see the sun rise and the later he will see it set. That is, of course, if one has a view of the horizon in question. Generally, Jerusalem's elevation causes sunset to be about 5 minutes earlier than at sea level, and a sunset of about 5 minutes later. Keep in mind that these times can be calculated mathematically (based on angles of the Sun above and below the horizon, even if direct observation is hindered.) 

In practice, Jerusalem's view to the east (where the Sun rises) consists of Harei Mo'av, the Jordanian Hills, which are at a similar elevation to Jerusalem itself. Therefore, the elevation vantage point is negated for Jerusalem because of its unbroken hilly eastern horizon. We are therefore including only one sunrise in the Z'manim box on the front page (a change from our long-standing practice). That time is known as Z'RICHA BAMISHOR, sunrise on a plain (with sea level). We will consider the earlier sunrise which takes elevation into account not to be relevant for Jerusalem Z'manim. 

This is not the case for sunset in Jerusalem. Many places in Jerusalem have a view towards the west of a sel level horizon. And therefore, many authorities hold that elevation should be taken into account. 

In our front-page box, sunset is given for GOVA (elevation) and then in parentheses BAMISHOR (without elevation). 

Times given as a range cover the 8-day period from the current Thursday (the day before the date of the TT) to the following Thursday, inclusive. 

Deadline for Sh'ma and Shacharit are given first according to the Vilna Gaon's opinion (day = sunrise to sunset), and then the opinion of the Magen Avraham, in parentheses, that the day is calculated from dawn to stars out. 

We'll have more on Halachic times in future issues of TT, IY"H.