## Kitzur Shulchan Arukh Siman 70

###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:1
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/70:1)

זְמַן קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע שֶׁל תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית הוּא מִשֶּׁנִּרָאִין שְׁלשָׁה כּוֹכָבִים קְטַנִּים, וּבַיּוֹם הַמְעֻנָּן יַמְתִּין עַד שֶׁיֵּצֵא הַסָּפֵק מִלִּבּוֹ. וְעַכְשָׁו נוֹהֲגִין לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בַּצִּבּור מַעֲרִיב תֵּכֶף אַחַר מִנְחָה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן אֵינוֹ לַיְלָה, מִפְּנֵי טֹרַח הַצִבּוּר, שֶׁהוּא טֹרַח לֶאֱסֹף הַצִּבּוּר שֵׁנִית, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא קֹדֶם פְּלַג הַמִּנְחָה, כִּי אָז אֲפִלּוּ בְּדִיעֲבַד אֵינָם יוֹצְאִין. וְאַשְׁרֵי לְמִי שֶׁמִּתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית בְּצִבּוּר בַּלַּיְלָה, וּבֵין מִנְחָה לְמַעֲרִיב עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, לְחַבֵּר הַלַּיְלָה עִם הַיּוֹם בַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁהוּא עִנְיָן גָּדוֹל. וְעַל כָּל פָּנִים רָאוּי לְכָל יְרֵא שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁאִם הִתְפַּלֵּל בְּצִבּוּר קֹדֶם הַלַּיְלָה, לֹא יֹאכַל קֹדֶם הַלַּיְלָה אֶלָּא יַמְתִּין, וּמִיָּד לְאַחַר צֵאת הַכּוֹכָבִים יִקְרָא שָׁלֹשׁ הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת שֶׁל קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע. וּמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְפַּלֵּל בְּצִבּוּר, אָסוּר לוֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית קֹדֶם צֵאת הַכּוֹכָבִים.

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
The [beginning] of the *Kerias Shema* period of the *Maariv* prayer is when three small stars become visible. On a cloudy day one should wait until "the doubt leaves his heart."¹ Nowadays it is customary for the congregation to pray *Maariv* immediately after *Minchah*, even it is not yet night in order not to burden the congregation, for it is a burden for the congregation to gather a second time. This should not be done before *pelag haminchah*,² for then, even already having done so,³ they will not have fulfilled their obligation.⁴. Fortunate is one who prays *Maariv* with the congregation after nightfall; and between *Minchah* and *Maariv* engages in the study of Torah, so that he joins night and day with Torah. According to *Kabbalah*⁵ 1: 1. this is a significant matter. At any rate, it is fitting for any God fearing person, who prayed with the congregation before nightfall, not to eat [a meal] before nightfall. He should wait and immediately after the stars appear he should read the three chapters of *Kerias Shema* and then eat his meal. One who does not pray with the congregation is forbidden to pray *Maariv* before the stars appear.⁶ after nightfall, it is only because of the merit of *tefillah betzibur* (congregational prayer) that one may pray earlier.

footnotes:
¹ I.e., he is absolutely certain that it is past nightfall.
² See Chapter 69 para 2.
³ I.e., having prayed.
⁴ Of praying Maariv
⁵ Magein Avraham
⁶ Since it is preferable to pray Maariv


###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:2
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/70:2)

לְכַתְּחִלָּה צָרִיךְ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית מִיָּד בְּצֵאת הַכּוֹכָבִים. וְאָסוּר לְהַתְחִיל לֶאֱכֹל אוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם דָּבָר, וַאֲפִלוּ לִלְמֹד, חֲצִי שָׁעָה קוֹדֵם צֵאת הַכּוֹכָבִים, כְּמוֹ סָמוּךְ לְמִנְחָה קְטַנָּה (וְעַיֵּן לְעֵיל סִימָן ס"ט סָעִיף ג'). וְאִם אֵין לוֹ פְּנַאי, כְּגוֹן שֶׁהוּא לוֹמֵד בָּרַבִּים, עַל כָּל פָּנִים לֹא יְאַחֵר יוֹתֵר מֵחֲצוֹת הַלַּיְלָה. וּבְדִיעֲבַד אֲפִלּוּ אַחַר חֲצוֹת עַד שֶׁלֹּא עָלָה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר יָצָא (פ"ט רל"ב רל"ה).

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
It is preferable to pray *Maariv* immediately when the stars appear. It is forbidden to start a meal or do anything, even to study [Torah], one-half hour before the stars appear, the same as it is forbidden before *Minchah ketanah*.⁷ If you have no time, for instance, if you teach a group [at that time], you should, at least, not delay [praying *Maariv*] beyond midnight. Even if you prayed after midnight, although it is after the fact,⁸ as long as it is before daybreak, you have fulfilled your obligation.

footnotes:
⁷ See Chapter 69 para. 3.
⁸ I.e., you had not prayed by midnight.


###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:3
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/70:3)

מִי שֶׁבָּא לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת לִתְפִלַּת עַרְבִית וּמָצָא שֶׁהַצִּבּוּר עוֹמְדִין לְהִתְפַּלֵּל שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה, אֲפִלּוּ עֲדַיִן אֵינוֹ לַיְלָה, אֶלָּא מִפְּלַג הַמִּנְחָה וּלְמַעְלָה, מִתְפַּלֵּל עִמָּהֶם שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ כְּשֶׁיִּהְיֶה לַיְלָה יֹאמַר קְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע עִם הַבְּרָכוֹת. וְאִם הַצִּבּוּר עוֹמְדִין בְּאֶמְצַע קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּבִרְכוֹתֶיהָ, וְיֵשׁ לוֹ שָׁהוּת לוֹמַר קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּגִּיעוּ לִתְפִלַּת שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה, קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע עִם הַבְּרָכוֹת עַד שׁוֹמֵר עַמּוֹ יִשְֹרָאֵל לָעַד יַעֲשֶׂה כן, וִידַלֵּג בָּרוּךְ ה' לְעוֹלָם וְכוּ', וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְאָמְרוֹ אַחַר כָּךְ לְאַחַר הַתְּפִלָּה (מהריעב"ץ), וְאִם הוּא לֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל עֲדַיִן מִנְחָה, יִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה שֶל מִנְחָה, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַצִּבּוּר אוֹמְרִים קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע עִם הַבְּרָכוֹת, וְיִשְׁהֶה מְעַט לְכָל הַפָּחוֹת כְּדֵי הִלּוּךְ דּ' אַמּוֹת, וְיִתְפַּלֵּל אַחַר כָּךְ שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה עִם הַצִּבּוּר לְמַעֲרִיב. וְאַחַר כָּךְ כְּשֶׁיִּהְיֶה לַיְלָה, יֹאמַר קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע עִם הַבְּרָכוֹת.

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
If you arrive at the synagogue for the *Maariv* prayer, and find the congregation about to begin the *Shemoneh Esrei*, even if it is before nightfall but after *pelag haminchah*, you should pray *Shemoneh Esrei*, along with them, and afterwards—after nightfall, recite *Kerias Shema* with the berachos. If the congregation is holding in mid-*Kerias Shema* and its berachos, and you have sufficient time to recite *Kerias Shema* and [its] berachos until *Shomeir amo Yisrael la'ad*, before they reach *Shemoneh Esrei*, you should do so and omit *Baruch Hashem le'olam* etc. and you are not required to say it after the prayer.⁹ was instituted so that those who arrive late be given the opportunity to complete their prayers together with everyone (*Tosafos*). It is, therefore, not necessary to make it up after *Maariv*. If you have not yet prayed *Minchah*,¹⁰ and its berachos. you should pray the *Shemoneh Esrei* prayer of *Minchah* while the congregation is reciting *Kerias Shema* with the berachos, and wait,¹¹. at least the time required to walk four *amos* and afterward pray the *Maariv Shemoneh Esrei* with the congregation. Afterwards—after nightfall you should recite *Kerias Shema* with the berachos.

footnotes:
⁹ Baruch Hashem le’olam
¹⁰ And you arrive when the congregation is in mid-Kerias shema
¹¹ Between Shemoneh Esrei


###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:4
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/70:4)

מִן בָּרוּךְ ה' לְעוֹלָם עַד יִרְאוּ עֵינֵינוּ, יֵשׁ לוֹמַר בִּישִׁיבָה. וְאָסוּר לְהַפְסִיק מִן תְּחִלַּת וְהוּא רַחוּם עַד לְאַחַר הַשְּׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה. וּמַה שֶּׁהַשַּׁמָּשׁ מַכְרִיז יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא וְטַל וּמָטָר לֹא הֲוֵי הֶפְסֵק, מִשּׁוּם דַּהֲוֵי צֹרֶךְ הַתְּפִלָּה.

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
*Baruch Hashem le'olam* until *Yiru eineinu* should be said preferably while seated.¹² 236). It is forbidden to interrupt from the beginning of *Vehu rachum* until after the *Shemoneh Esrei*. The *Shamosh'*s announcements of *Ya'aleh veyavo!* and *Tal umator!* are not considered an interruption because they are needed for the prayer.

footnotes:
¹² Others hold that standing is preferable (Rema


###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:5
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 70:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/70:5)

אִם נִשְׁאַר אָדָם יְחִידִי מִתְפַּלֵּל מַעֲרִיב בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת בַּלַּיְלָה, חַיָּב חֲבֵרוֹ לְהַמְתִּין עַד שֶׁיְסַיֵּם תְּפִלָּתוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִּתְבַּלְבֵּל מַחְשַׁבְתוֹ. וְאִם הִתְחִיל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לְסַיֵּם תְּפִלָּתוֹ עִם הַצִּבּוּר, אֵינוֹ חַיָּב לְהַמְתִּין עָלָיו, שֶׁהֲרֵי מוֹכְחָא מִלְּתָא דְּאֲדַעְתָּא דְּהָכִי נִכְנַס, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְפַחֵד.

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
If one person remains praying *Maariv* at the synagogue at night his friend must wait until he completes his prayers so that he not be distracted.¹³ [However,] if he began to pray at a time which would not enable him to complete his prayer together with the congregation, then one is not obligated to wait for him, because it is apparent that he knowingly began this prayers¹⁴ because he is not afraid.

footnotes:
¹³ The concern of being left alone may hinder his concentration.
¹⁴ I.e., being aware that he will be the last person remaining in the synagogue.