Duration of Time Added to Shabbat
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Question
Is it obligatory to accept the addition to Shabbat or Yom Tov at a specific time before sunset, or is any amount of time before sunset sufficient to fulfill the mitzvah of adding to Shabbat/Yom Tov?
Answer
Shalom and blessings
The early authorities are divided on whether the time is any amount or if there is a specific time for the addition.
In the Mishnah Berurah (Siman 261, Se'if Katan 23), it is written that adding 20 minutes before sunset fulfills the obligation according to all opinions. It is better to add half an hour.
Source
Quote from the words of our teacher, the Gaon Rabbi Ovadia Fried - Azmera Leshimcha 99
The early authorities are divided on this: According to Tosafot (Moed Katan 4, 'Di', and Rosh Hashanah 9, 'VeRav'), any addition is sufficient, and this is also the opinion of Rabbeinu Yonah in Berachot 27 (his words are brought below).
However, according to Tosafot in Beitzah 30 and the Rosh (Yoma, Chapter 8, Siman 8), there is a specific time for the addition, but it is not clarified what this time is, and the essence of the Rosh's words: 'And this addition is not clarified, and it must not be any addition, as proven in Shabbat 148 and Beitzah 30 - "and our women ate and drank until dark, and we did not protest against them". Presumably, they did not eat completely until dark as they could not precisely calculate, etc., hence it is not any addition, but its time is not clarified', end of quote regarding the addition to Yom Kippur, and it seems that this is also the case regarding the addition to Shabbat. According to their opinion, it is at least two minutes before sunset.
In Mishnah Berurah (Siman 261, Se'if Katan 23), it is written that one should not wait until the last moment, and whoever is stringent and refrains from work half an hour or at least 20 minutes before sunset is fortunate, as he fulfills this according to all opinions of the early authorities, and see Biur Halacha there, 'What time' and in Mishnah Berurah there, Se'if Katan 22.