Shekiat HaChamah

21 Jun 2006

[f., pl. “Shekiot HaChamah”]; sunset; the astronomical event that occurs when the disc of the sun disappears over the western horizon. According to Rabbeinu Tam, one of the greatest of the Baalei Tosafot, there are actually two “Shekiot;” the first, as described above, the second occurring when the residual light that remains in the west after “first-sunset” also disappears.