Shabbat in the Summer

Boker tov. In Los Angeles summer Shabbat is late. If event yo have dinner at 6:00 and Shabbat isn’t until 8:00ish, what prayers do we say at dinner? THEN Shabbat candle prayer at 8:00????

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

It appears to me from your question that you prefer to begin Shabbat at the proper time, sunset, yet you would like to eat dinner at 6PM.

If that is the case, one can eat as normal at 6PM. There are no special prayers to recite as it is simply not yet Shabbat.

When Shabbat formally begins, one recites the evening prayers as normal. Candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset and there is a blessing to recite when lighting them. Check your siddur for instructions on candle lighting. One would then recite Kiddush (and the other customary Friday night prayers) and proceed with a proper Shabbat meal (beginning the meal with a blessing over two loaves of bread).

There is also the option of starting Shabbat early. One is permitted to begin Shabbat from the time known as “Plag Hamincha.” Plag Hamincha is an hour and a quarter “halachic hours” before sunset. In Los Angeles, in July, this is about 6:45 pm. However, this time changes slightly every single week, so one must be up to date on the earliest Shabbat start time each week. Once one lights the candles, recites the evening prayers, or recites kiddush, it is Shabbos for such a person even though the sun has not yet set.

One who starts Shabbat early can recite the evening prayers and the Kiddush any time after Plag Hamincha. The meal that one then has is considered to be a full proper Shabbat meal even though it is well before sunset.

I will add, that as a general rule, one should not have a large meal to close to Shabbat. This is because we are to have a hearty appetite for the Shabbat meal. As such, if you are eating dinner at 6Pm and then beginning Shabbat at sunset, you should try eating a small meal at that time and then leave some delicacies (and an appetite) for the main Shabbat meal after sunset.

Many synagogues offer services for those wanting to do “early Shabbat” as well as services for those wishing to do “Shabbat on time.” Be sure to reach out to your local synagogue/rabbi for more guidance on this matter.

See O.C. 249,261,263,267 with commentaries