Making Early Shabbos on the Second Day of Shavuos

Can one make early Shabbos when it coincides with the second day of Shavuos?

There is a long-standing tradition not to bring in the Yom Tov of Shavuos early, but should this apply to the second day of Yom Tov? The Magen Avraham[1] cites the custom that on Shavuos night, Kiddush is recited only after tzeis ha’kochavim. The Taz[2] adds that even Maariv should be after dark. This is based on the premise that sefiras ha’omer demands complete days and weeks – תמימות – and one who brings Shavuos in early doesn’t complete the entire seven weeks. The Pri Megadim[3] comments that since we do not count the fiftieth day, there is no need to “complete” the first day of Shavuos, and thus there is no reason to “wait” on the second night of Shavuos. However, the Netziv[4] questions the reasoning of the Magen Avraham and suggests an entirely different reason for the custom of davening Maariv late on Shavuos night. He argues that the phrase “בעצם היום” in the pasuk describing Shavuos indicates that there is no tosefes Yom Tov on Shavuos. If one accepts the reasoning of the Netziv, then even the second day of Shavuos should not be brought in early, as “בעצם” applies to the second day as well. Nevertheless, the Poskim seem to follow the reasoning of the Magen Avraham and as such one may bring in the second day of Shavuos early.

Irrespective of the particular Shavuos question, there is a larger issue. The Shulchan Aruch[5] writes that, although we celebrate two days of Yom Tov outside of Eretz Yisrael, we are not certain which day is the “real” Yom Tov. For this reason, one may not cook or bake on the first day for the second day. Based upon this, the Levush[6] writes that it is proper to wait until night to daven Maariv on the second day of Yom Tov. The second day may really be a weekday; if some of the work performed to prepare the food for the night meal were to be done while it was still light, that would constitute preparing on Yom Tov for the weekday. It is for this reason that shul calendars notify that candle lighting and preparations for the second day of Yom Tov should not be done before nightfall. Due to these concerns, it is customary not to bring in the second day of Yom Tov early[7].

However, when the second day of Yom Tov falls out on Shabbos, there is no concern that one will perform any מלאכה during בין השמשות and thus it is permissible to bring in Shabbos/Yom Tov day two early. In fact, the Magen Avraham[8] records a long-standing tradition to accept Shabbos early when Yom Tov falls on Friday. This custom is rooted in the view that the eiruv tavshilin, which allows cooking on Yom Tov for Shabbos, is predicated on the idea of הואיל ואי מיקלעי אורחים, that guests may arrive unannounced on Yom Tov and the food cooked will be needed on Yom Tov itself. The Magen Avraham notes that this rationalizes cooking for most of the day, but late on Friday afternoon, when the chance of suddenly needing food is minimal, the eiruv tavshilin should not be relied upon to cook. In order to alleviate this issue entirely, the minhag became to accept Shabbos early and thereby avoid all cooking in the waning hours of the day. In summation, being that day two of Shavuos is Shabbos, it is entirely acceptable, and maybe desirable, to make early Shabbos/day two of Shavuos.[9]

[1] 494, introduction.

[2] 494, introduction.

[3] Mishbaetzos Zahav.

[4] Haamek Davar Vayikra 23:21; see Ramban 23:28.

[5] 503:1.

[6] 488:3.

[7] See, however, Maharil, Tefillos Pesach 6.

[8] 527, introduction.

[9] See Rabbi’s Responsa, Moadim #149, where much of this is discussed.