What Are Zmanim and Why Are They Important? (2024)

What Are Zmanim and Why Are They Important?

What Are Zmanim and Why Are They Important? (2)

What Are Zmanim and Why Are They Important? (3)

Rabbi Lauren Tuchman

When I am asked to describe the Jewish tradition in strictly ritual or religious terms, I often say that the Jewish tradition is an all-encompassing one, offering moments for spiritual connection throughout the day.

In rabbinic parlance, zmanim—prayer times—play a large role in that. Of course, specific prayer times are not the only opportunities we have during the day for spiritual connection. Rather, zmanim are in place to offer structure to our days, reminding us to stop with intention and take time out for our practice.

What are zmanim?

Zmanim is the plural of the Hebrew word zman, meaning time or invitation. Zmanim most often refer to the specific windows of time during the day when particular prayers may be recited according to the traditional rabbinic understanding. Zmanim are also sometimes used in Jewish communities to refer to the times when holidays or Shabbat begin.

In order to understand how zmanim work, it’s important to know how the Jewish day works.

You may be familiar with the fact that the Jewish day begins at sunset. This is because in the first chapter of Bereshit/Genesis, we are told that there was evening and there was morning—one day. The six days of creation each begin with evening and the seventh day of rest—Shabbat—begins in the evening after the six days are completed (Genesis 2:1).

For the purposes of Jewish law and reciting particular prayers at their set times (most notably the Shma and Amidah), daylight hours are divided into twelve relative or seasonal hours. There are, as with so many things in Judaism, multiple opinions on the length of time that needs to be divided into these twelve hours. According to the Magen Avraham, the time between alot hashachar—dawn—and tzeit hakochavim—nightfall—is divided into twelve hours. According to the Vilna Gaon, the time between sunrise and nightfall is divided into twelve hours.

What is an hour according to this system?

We’re used to the idea that an hour is sixty minutes. We are so accustomed to this that we take it totally for granted and don’t give it a second thought.

However, time and how we keep track of it is arbitrary.

For the rabbis and for many Jews today, dividing the day into twelve hours made it much simpler to keep track of the precise time that the Shma and Amidah needed to be recited each morning. Similarly, it was helpful for knowing when Mincha—the afternoon prayer—could be recited.

Since the amount of daylight, we experience varies seasonally, so would the amount of time each day that a person would have to say the prayers at their proper time. This is why sha’ot or hours can be as short as 50 minutes in the winter and as long as 70 or 80 in the summer. An hour’s length is determined by calculating the length of time between dawn or sunrise and nightfall and dividing that number by 12.

Thank G-d, there is now an app for that! Many Jews who want to look up a zman just have to take out their phones and open the app.

This simple calculation was most helpful before we were able to rely upon regulated timekeeping.

Why does this matter?

It is entirely understandable to wonder why any of this matters. Isn’t this pedantic? Prayer is prayer.

Who cares when I recite it?

For many Conservative/Masorti Jews, chiyyuv—or obligation to do mitzvot daily at specific times—really matters spiritually and ritually. In addition to providing a structure for the day, these times offer us opportunities to step out of our routines and remember that we’re part of a tradition that has been in existence for thousands of years. When we take time out to do Jewish in this way, we’re taking our place in that chain.

Obligation? That sounds so constricting!

For Western folks like us, the idea of obligation carries with it a feeling of burden or trial. For many Jews, obligation is an opportunity to show up when it matters most. A case in point is being part of a minyan for someone who needs to say Kaddish.

Instead of a person running around franticly trying to get a minyan together at a random time, zmanim ensure that there are preset windows of time when each of the three daily prayers—Maariv, Shacharit, Mincha—is recited.

Think about how hard it is to schedule meetings with others. We’ve all been there—the endless Doodles and emails. When we set a regular time, we feel a sense of relief—or at least I know I do!—not wondering when the next meeting will be. So, too, prayer times provide a framework for our days, our weeks, months and years. This framework can allow us to live lives rich in meaning, structure and points of contact with our communities, the Divine and ourselves.

  • What Are Zmanim and Why Are They Important? (5)

    Rabbi Lauren Tuchman

    Rabbi Tuchman is a sought after spiritual leader and Jewish educator based in the Washington, DC area. She teaches Jewish contemplative and spiritual practices, in addition to consulting with communities and leaders on issues pertinent to disability inclusion.

    View all posts https://buttondown.email/rabbituchman https://soundcloud.com/laurentuchman

Author

  • What Are Zmanim and Why Are They Important? (6)

    Rabbi Lauren Tuchman

    Rabbi Tuchman is a sought after spiritual leader and Jewish educator based in the Washington, DC area. She teaches Jewish contemplative and spiritual practices, in addition to consulting with communities and leaders on issues pertinent to disability inclusion.

Post categories: Afternoon Prayers (Mincha), Amidah, Evening Service (Ma'ariv), Every Day, Morning Service (Shacharit), Prayer, Shema

Post tags: Amidah, Creation, Laws, Maariv, Mincha, Prayer, Prayers, Shacharit, Shema, Time

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What Are Zmanim and Why Are They Important? (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Zmanim in Chabad? ›

Many observances in Jewish law are performed at specific times during the day. The calculation of these halachic times, known as zmanim (Hebrew for “times”), depends on the various astronomical phenomena of the day for the specific locale.

What time is nightfall in Judaism? ›

According to the Geonim, nightfall is 13½-18 minutes after sundown (or, equivalently, when the sun falls 3–4.65° below the horizon). According to Rabbeinu Tam, nightfall occurs exactly 72 (or 90) minutes after sundown (or, equivalently, when the sun falls 16.1° or 20° below the horizon).

How to calculate shaos zmaniyos? ›

Shaos Z'manios – Z'manim use special hours called shaos z'manios. These are calculated by dividing the daylight hours into 12 parts – either from daybreak to nightfall (according to the Magen Avraham) or from sunrise to sunset (according to the Vilna Gaon). The hours are longer in the summer and shorter in the winter.

What time is the earliest Shema? ›

Earliest Time for Shema (and Amida)

Earliest time to say shema and amida is 72 minutes before sunrise, b'di'avad, since the guideline is halachic “day.” Note: L'chatchila, you should say shema anytime from 3 minutes before sunrise until the end of the third halachic hour of the day.

Does Chabad believe in Kabbalah? ›

In Chabad thought, the study of Kabbalah is seen, in some instances, not only as an act of religious study, but as a way to fulfill other Jewish commandments.

What does zman mean? ›

Zman is Hebrew for "time", and may refer to: A time of day with applications in Jewish law.

What is the most sacred day in Judaism? ›

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is considered the holiest day of the year for people who practice Judaism.

What is the holiest night Judaism? ›

Yom Kippur

The Hebrew Bible calls the day Yom Hakippurim "Day of the Atonement/s". In the Hebrew calendar, the ninth day of Tishrei is known as Erev Yom Kippur (Yom Kippur eve). Yom Kippur itself begins around sunset on that day and continues into the next day until nightfall, and therefore lasts about 25 hours.

What is forbidden on Shavuot? ›

SHAVUOT – Holy Days. No work, writing, commerce or travel is permitted. SHIVA ASAR B'TAMMUZ – Fast from daybreak to nightfall. No other prohibitions on this holiday.

What is the Halachic hour? ›

A “halachic hour” is 1/12 of the time from sunrise to sunset (according to the Gr”a). In the summer, if the day is 15 hours long, a “halachic hour” is 75 minutes long. In the winter, if the day is 9 hours long, a “halachic hour” is 45 minutes long.

What is mincha Gedola? ›

The gemara in Berakhot (26b) says that the time for mincha gedola (literally, the early mincha - referring to the first portion of the afternoon) starts from six and a half hours after sunrise (an hour here refers to one twelfth of the sunrise-to-sunset period), and mincha ketana (literally, the small mincha - ...

What is Tzeit Hakochavim? ›

Tzeis hakochavim is a halachic zman (time-period) known as nightfall. Tzeis hakochavim starts when three stars are visible in the sky. when tzeis hakochavim goes into effect it is officially night.

Is the bedtime Shema in the Bible? ›

prescribes that one should recite the Shema “when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:7, 11:9).

Why do Jews say Shema every morning? ›

The prayer expresses belief in the singularity of God, that is, in God's oneness and incomparability. It is traditionally recited twice a day, as part of the morning (Shacharit) and evening (Arvit or Ma'ariv) services. It serves as the climax of the liturgy on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.

What is the first word in the Shema? ›

The opening line, “Hear, O Israel,” does not simply mean to let sound waves enter your ears. Here, the word shema means to allow the words to sink in, provide understanding, and generate a response—it's about action.

What is a mikvah Chabad? ›

A mikvah is a pool of water in which Jewish people immerse to affect purity. It is most commonly used by women when they conclude their period of niddah and by converts as they become Jewish.

What is Tashlich Chabad? ›

Tashlikh or Tashlich (Hebrew: תשליך "cast off") is a customary Jewish atonement ritual performed during the High Holy Days on Rosh Hashanah. In some Judaeo-Spanish-speaking communities the practice is referred to as sakudirse las faldas ('to shake the flaps [of clothing]') or simply as faldas.

What is the difference between Magen Avraham and GRA? ›

According to the Magen Avraham, the hours of the day are calculated according the hours of light. In other words, the calculation begins from amud hashachar and lasts until total darkness. However, according to the Gra, the calculation is based on the hours that the sun is visible, meaning from sunrise until sunset.

What does neshama mean Chabad? ›

The soul, or neshamah in Jewish thought, is the self, the "I" that inhabits the body and acts through it.

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