Rabbeinu Tam (and many other Rishonim) say that there are two times called "sundown": Pesachim describes the actual sundown (four mil before nightfall), while Shabbat 34b describes a time 3/4 mil before nightfall.The Geonim (and the Vilna Gaon) say that the Shabbat 34b describes the time of halakhic nightfall, while Pesachim describes when all the stars are visible (an occasion which has little halakhic significance).Later authorities differ in their interpretations of these passages: ![]() Tractate Pesachim states that the length is four mil, while Shabbat 34b states that the length is just 3/4 mil. Two Talmudic passages provide contradictory statements regarding to its length: The length and timing of bein hashemashot are subject to dispute. The Talmud states there is an uncertainty as to whether the day ends exactly at sundown or nightfall, so the period in between - known as bein hashemashot (בין השמשות) - has a status of doubt, as it could belong to either the previous or next day. One calendar day ends, and the next day begins, in the evening. That degree of darkness is reckoned as being reached when the sun has fallen a certain number of degrees below the horizon (for example, 7★′ below the horizon), and that number of degrees becomes the actual standard used for all places and all dates. Therefore, they hold that "72 minutes after sundown" actually refers to the degree of darkness of the sky, 72 minutes after sundown in Jerusalem on an equinox. Other authorities, especially those living in higher latitudes, noted that the darkness of the sky 72 minutes after sundown (for example) varies substantially from place to place, and from date to date. Many authorities hold such calculations to be absolute: the phrase "four mils after sundown," for example, means exactly "72 minutes after sundown" in all places on all dates. Most authorities reckon the time it takes to walk one mil as being 18 minutes, though there are opinions of up to 24 minutes. The Talmud often states calculations of zmanim in terms of the time it takes to walk some distance, stated in mil ( Biblical miles). Near New York, for example, a "seasonal hour" based on the Vilna Gaon's calculations lasts ~45 minutes near the winter solstice, ~60 minutes near the equinoxes, and ~75 minutes near the summer solstice. ![]() For times in the afternoon, the Vilna Gaon's times are earlier, and are almost universally followed. The result is that "Magen Avraham times" are earlier in the morning than "Vilna Gaon times" in practice, there are communities that follow each of those standards.
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