Q. Single people who want to begin Shabbat early, and attend a minyan for Mincha that begins right before Plag Hamincha and then recites Kabalath Shabath right after, as is required by Halacha, when should they light Shabath candles? (since the can not return home after Mincha and you can not light before Plag).
A. The Remah O.C. 261,2 and Mishne Berurah ibid. 25, state that you can not accept Shabbos before Plag (One and half hour zemanios, before Shkiah or Tzeis - see M.B. ibid.), therefore the mitzva of hadlokas neiros remains unfulfilled and the brocho is levatolo. This presents a serious challenge for single people who want to make early Shabbos. Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a suggested three solutions:
a) If you reside near the Shul, go home after the Plag and light then.
b) If going back is not an option, you may kindle lights in the Shul, provided that after Maariv you make Kidush there and eat a Kzais bread.
c) if the above is not feasible, you can request from a neighbour to be your agent, light the candles at your residence and make the brocho after Plag.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
