Question:
I understand that if someone intends to bring in Shabbos early (before sunset), they must daven Minchah before Plag Ha-minchah. My question is, if you said Minchah just before sunset (obviously after Plag Ha-minchah) but want to say kiddush and have dinner sometime between sunset and Zeis Ha-kokavim, is that permitted since one has already accepted Shabbos and it is past sunset? Or does this only work if one says Minchah by Plag Ha-minchah even though one is prohibited from weekday activities?
Hello,
My understanding of your question is that you have not yet davened Maariv. Because of this, you may not start eating the Shabbos meal within half an hour of the time when we must daven Maariv and say Kriyas Shema. However, you can start your meal if it is more than half an hour before Maariv. In the USA, many people pray Maariv 40 minutes after sunset. So, one may start the meal up to ten minutes after sunset. That is still more than half an hour before Maariv. In Eretz Yisroel, the sun sets faster, and people pray Maariv 20–25 minutes after sunset. You should not start the meal even a few minutes before sunset, as it is still within half an hour before the time to daven Maariv. Another option is to assign someone to remind you to daven before you start eating.
Best wishes
