Halachic Times for Jerusalem
Z'MANIM - HALACHIC TIMES - Correct for TT #641
Ranges are THU-THU 20-27 Cheshvan (Nov. 4-11)
Earliest Shacharit - 5:07-5:12am
Sunrise - 5:58-6:04am
Sof Z'man Kri'at Sh'ma - 8:40-8:43am (7:54-7:57am)
Sof Z'man T'fila - 9:34-9:36am (9:04-9:06am)
Chatzot (halachic noon) - 11:23-11:23am
Mincha Gedola (earliest Mincha) - 11:53-11:54am
Plag Mincha - 3:39-3:36pm
Sunset - 4:52-4:47pm (4:47-4:42pm)
Candle Lighting & Havdala Times (Standard Winter time)
Correct for TT 641 • Rabbeinu Tam (J'm) - 6:00pm
4:11pm Jerusalem 5:23pm
4:30pm Gush Katif 5:28pm
4:27pm Raanana 5:25pm
4:27pm Beit Shemesh 5:24pm
4:26pm Netanya 5:24pm
4:27pm Rehovot 5:25pm
4:07pm Petach Tikva 5:24pm
4:27pm Modi'in 5:24pm
4:28pm Be'er Sheva 5:26pm
4:26pm Gush Etzion 5:24pm
4:26pm Ginot Shomron 5:24pm
4:11pm Maale Adumim 5:23pm
4:18pm Tzfat 5:21pm
4:27pm K4 & Hevron 5:24pm
Jerusalem lights candles 40 minutes before sunset. (Except for those who
don’t follow that custom.) Which sunset? Important question. The standard
practice is to count 40 minutes before “sunset of elevation”. Jerusalem is a
little over 800m above sea level. If one could see the sun set over a
horizon at sea level (which can be done from some parts of J’lem), it would
set about 5 minutes later than someone watching from sea level, or seeing
the sun set beyond mountains that are approx. the same height as Jerusalem
is. Since the sunset on the same plane is 5 minutes earlier, and for Shabbat
purposes is the sunset we would have to consider because of the strictness
of Shabbat, then J’lem candle lighting time is really only 35 minutes before
“the other” sunset. All other places at some height above sea level have
similar problems. Tzfat lights candles 30 minutes before sunset. Official
candle lighting for Petach Tikva is 40 minutes before sunset, just like
Jerusalem. Not everybody holds by that timing. Some communities calculate
Shabbat out at 33 minutes after sunset. Some use the angle of the sun below
the horizon to “end Shabbat” (8.5 deg). Bottom line for now: until we get
the chart running smoothly, don’t rely on it exclusively. Cross-check times
with calendars and charts. Please report discrepancies to us, so that we can
improve our time table. Also realize that Sfardim and Ashkenazim often has
differences in minhag.
Explanation of the Z'manim
Sunrise for Jerusalem does not take into account elevation, since the
eastern horizon (where the sun rises) consists of the Hills of Moav across
the Jordan River, which are approx. at the same elevation as Jerusalem
Sunset, on the other hand, is given for an elevation of 825m
and, in parentheses, as if at sea level. There are different opinions as to
which sunset time should be used for halachic purposes. We present both
times.
The deadlines for the SH'MA and the Shacharit Amida can be
calculated in two ways. Either considering the day to be from sunrise to
sunset or from dawn to stars out. The first way of reckoning is known as the
opinion of the GR"A, and is the first time given in each case. The second
method is known as the Magen Avraham, and is presented in parentheses.
Aside from candle lighting and havdala, the times are
presented as a range, from the current Thursday of the issue of Torah
Tidbits until the coming Thursday, a span of 8 days. Days between the two
Thursdays can be determined by interpolation (which means: a method by which
to estimate a value of between two known values-this is something that
people above a certain age might remember from high school trigonometry and
logarithms, but younger people who went to school during the calculator era
might not be familiar with).
It is usually wise to "pad" the times with a minute or two
in the "play it safe" direction. E.g. Plag Mincha. Better to finish Mincha a
minute or two before the given time. But, better to not light candles until
a minute or two after the given time.
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