The beginning and end of Shabbat in the Qutb
Hello Rabbi,
I’m currently in Iceland, and during this period the days are particularly long – the sun sets (below the horizon) at around 00:40 and rises at 01:30 – which means there is no stargazing. Day by day this is decreasing and we will soon reach a point where the sun does not set at all (although there is always the “low point in the sky”).
I wonder how one should proceed regarding Shabbat in particular and evening prayer in general.
1) When does Shabbat begin if the stars do not come out?
2) Is it necessary to say “And may there be peace” and “You have taught us” in early Arabic if Shabbat has not yet begun?
3) Is it possible to pray on the evening of
4) The same goes for another six months – then the sun doesn’t shine for several days.
thanks!
I don’t know how to answer you right now. It is customary in the Arctic to take the sun at its highest point in the sky as noon, and six hours before and after that are the day. But in Iceland there is sunset and sunrise, but the night (or day) is short.
I saw that there is a rabbi named Avi Feldman who is the new rabbi of Iceland (lives in Reykjavik, apparently has a Chabad house) and it is worth asking him. You can ask other Scandinavian rabbis (Sweden or Denmark).
If you don’t have a way to check there, write to me again and I’ll try to check here.
It is no more obvious to say that there is no night if the sun does not set and to define the lowest point of the sun as the transition between the days. After all, as we move north, the night becomes shorter and shorter and the limit of this process is when the sun does not set, and it is more likely that the function of the transition point between the days as a function of the movement north will be continuous.
Sounds logical on the surface. What I wrote is what is accepted according to the law regarding the pole (when there is no night at all).
Hello, when does Shabbat Parashat Pinchas 5741 start in Accra. Thank you, Sh’arlo.
On the Rosh Chodesh of Shevat P.A.
Lair and Elsa Sharlow – Shalom Rav,
According to the way things are going in Israel – it seems that the Shabbat of Parashat ‘Pinchas’ will be close to the elections for the 25th Knesset, and in any case you will certainly be in the US to fulfill your democratic right and duty to participate in the elections 🙂
If you nevertheless have to be in Iceland – then you can contact (as suggested by Rabbi Dr. Avraham above) Rabbi Avi Feldman, the rabbi of Iceland who lives in Reykjavik, the capital, and/or the Chabad house there, and they will certainly provide you with information regarding the times of Shabbat entry and exit in Akureyri (and will also guide you on how to obtain kosher food there).
Regards, Yaron Fishel Corinaldi, Kochav Hashachar Editor
Meanwhile, I did a little Google searching, and came to the website of the Jewish community of Iceland WWW/JEWISHICELAND.COM, where all the information is found, both about the food options and the times for lighting the candles.
For example, I discovered that lighting the candles on Shabbat Parashat Pinchas 5771 2.7.21 can be done between 21:44 (Peleg HaMincha) and 23:36. Shabbat ends at 1:06. This is for Reykjavik. Another click will give you all the times of the day, both in Reykjavik and in other cities (including Akureyri).
In short: all the information is neat, sweet and organized. It seems that Rabbi Avi Feldman and his wife Rebbetzin Mushka did an excellent job. Don't say ‘Mushka’ but ‘Mushka’ 🙂
Good night / good morning, Yip
Leave a Reply
Please login or Register to submit your answer
