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The dispute on the exact times, when the Minchah and Maariv services are to be prayed is a subject of disagreement between the Mishnaic sages. Rabbi Judah maintained that Minchah can be prayed (from one half hour after midday) until 1 1/4 hours before sunset. His rabbinic counterparts argued that one may say the Minchah prayers until the end of the day. According to the rabbis, the Minchah prayer was instituted in correspondence with the afternoon communal sacrifice, which technically may be offered as long as it was day. Rabbi Judah contended that Minchah corresponds to the offering of the incense, which was offered at least 11/4 hours before sunset. The Maariv prayer directly follows Minchah. So according to the rabbis, Maariv must wait until nightfall, while Rabbi Judah holds that Maariv may be prayed anytime after the Plag Haminchah.
The “Politically Correct” verdict, in an unusual quirk of Jewish law, has never been resolved. Instead, one may select whichever opinion is more convenient! You can recite the Maariv after nightfall, or you may pray the Maariv before nightfall, after the Plag Haminchah, provided that you recited Minchah before the Plag Haminchah. However, one should not be constantly vacillating between the two opinions; one day like this and the next like that—choose the more convenient option and stick with it. Shabbat is the exception to this rule: because we are eager to be graced by the holiness of the day, even one who during the week always prays Maariv after nightfall may pray the Shabbat evening prayers on Friday afternoon after the Plag Haminchah.
Although one can pray the Maariv before nightfall, the Shema must be repeated after the stars appear. Also, when praying before sunset, the counting of the Omer is omitted, and must be said after dark.
To find out the Plag Haminchah for any date and location, go to http://chabad.org/calendar/zmanim.asp. See also What is the Kabbalistic significance of the "Plag Haminchah"?
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