Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

category:  Other

Praying the evening prayer (Maariv, or Arvit) before the obligatory time:
lf a Shaliach lives in a place where the minyan (prayer quorum of at least ten men)for Maariv takes place before tzeit hakochavim, (the appearance of stars in the sky) should
he pray with the minyan, or by himself after tzeit hakochavim?
Answer: If he prayed Mincha that day within an (halachic) hour and a quarter before sunset, he may pray Maariv before the appearance of stars, and after that he should recite the Shma prayer again. During the period of Sefirat HaOmer, he should recite that also after the tzeit hakochavim. (Tzeit hakochavim as in the halachically defined time in special calendars.)

There are no hard and fast rules about white shirts. In general, a white shirt is considered to be a modest but respectable garment, and a person should wear clothing that is respectable.


Also, part of the day is spent standing in prayer in front of the Creator, and this certainly warrants respectable attire.


In any case, the main thing is not the external garments, but rather the spiritual ones, namely, a person’s thought, speech, and deed. Physical clothing is only a means to the end, the goal being purity of spiritual garments.

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