Barchu, then Minchah?

Hi,

One who comes to shul in the evening and finds the minyan beginning an early maariv with Barchu may respond and then daven minchah afterward, if this is a weekday. However, one may not do so on Friday night, as he will have accepted Shabbat by responding to Barchu.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:172)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Davening the Friday night before plag

Hi, Granted that authorities have permitted certain communities to daven before plag on Friday evening in certain circumstances, this is not halachically correct. However, one should not protest their practice. (Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:15) Have a great day, Mordechai

Counting the omer after accepting Shabbos

Hi,

One who forgets to count the Omer on Thursday night, and davens maariv before sunset on Friday evening, may still perform the Thursday night count until sunset on Friday evening.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:99:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A husband's acceptance of Shabbat

Hi,

An individual within a community must accept Shabbat early when the community does, assuming there is no local congregation which will accept it closer to sunset.

A wife is not bound by her husband's acceptance of Shabbat; she may still perform melachah. However, she may not be permitted to perform melachah on his behalf.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:38)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Late for shul Friday night

Hi,

One who comes to shul Friday evening before sunset and sees that the shul has accepted Shabbat already and is up to maariv, may respond to Barchu at the start of maariv and then daven minchah only if he explicitly intended not to accept Shabbat with his response to Barchu.

Note that he would need to step out to daven minchah, so as not to veer from the communal acceptance of Shabbos.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:37)

Have a great day,
Mordechai