Q. A rav desires to conduct kabbalos Shabbos/ Maariv services in two different communities (one early Shabbos and then at the regular time). At the first services, he will not be davening himself (someone else will daven for the amud), but rather the rav's purpose in going there is to give a drasha and to instruct people in hilchos Shabbos, etc. May he attend the first services, answer Barechu (without actually davening Maariv), and then drive to the second place (obviously, before shkia)?
Is it a Chillul Hashem, as all the people there were already mekabel Shabbos and they see the rav getting in his car in front of them? Even if he explains that he is having in mind not to accept Shabbos, it is perhaps an odd thing to do?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that since the Rav was not mekabel Shabbos yet he is allowed to travel before the time of candle lighting. Also he does not depend on this early minyan, as he is davening at the late minyan. Therefore the early kabolas Shabbos of that tzibur does not affect him.
There is also no issue of ma’aras ayin if the Rav explained publicly or is already known that he will be davening at the later minyan.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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