Prayer and Blessings
When Can One Pray Ma'ariv?
Question
What time is one allowed to pray Ma'ariv?
I understand that sometimes Ma'ariv is prayed early and the Shema is repeated afterward; what is the reason for this and when does it occur?
Answer
Hello and blessings,
For an individual, it is appropriate to pray only after 3 stars have appeared and not before that.
A congregation that prays Minchah early and finds it difficult to gather a minyan for Ma'ariv can pray from sunset and sometimes even from the time of the Plag Haminchah.
Best regards,
Benjamin Shmueli
