Summer 2007 | Updated March 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Originally titled: When Does One Pray When There Is No Day]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For an explanation of terms used below, refer to the glossary<\/a> available on our site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a time not long ago when kosher food was available only in major Jewish metropolitan areas. Finding kosher certified products on the road was a daunting task. \u201cKosher Tours\u201d were limited to a few select areas. Today, the Star-K and other kosher symbols appear on thousands of food products. Kosher food is available from Fairbanks to Fiji, and from New Zealand to Norway. Kosher tours are now available to Alaska and Antarctica. With so many north and south destinations easily accessible to kosher consumers, the observant Jew now faces an array of fascinating questions. In parts of Alaska, and other locations north of the Arctic Circle, there are periods of time during the summer when the sun never sets and during the winter when the sun never rises. When does Shabbos begin in the land of the midnight sun? Can one daven Shacharis if the sun doesn’t rise? When does Shabbos start and end in Anchorage on a day that does not get dark? A similar question is, when does an astronaut daven and begin and end Shabbos in outer space? A description of the Arctic Circle is necessary to understand the halachos that relate to these unique circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Arctic Circle (located at 66.56\u00b0 N Latitude, see map) is an imaginary line that runs through Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, and Alaska1<\/a><\/sup>. From this general area and northward, there are days in the summer when the sun does not set and days in the winter when the sun does not rise.2<\/a><\/sup> For example, in Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world located on the Svalbard Islands north of Norway,3<\/a><\/sup> the sun remains above the horizon from April 20 through August 25. During this time the midnight sun is visible for over four months. Between October 27 and February 15, the sun never peaks above the horizon.4<\/a><\/sup> In Alert, Nunavut in Canada,5<\/a><\/sup> the sun does not set for almost five months of the year. At the North Pole, the sun rises in March and stays up for six months until it sets in September, when it remains below the horizon for six months. At the South Pole6<\/a><\/sup>, the sun also stays up for six months (September through March) and stays below the horizon for six months (March through September).<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are various opinions regarding what to do in such locations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Minchas Elazar <\/em>7<\/a> <\/sup>questions whether a person\u2019s Shabbos in the Arctic Circle lasts until the next sunset, which could be s everal months later. For example, if a person arrives on Friday, May 15th and the sun sets late that evening, and then rises early the next morning and does not set for two months, it may be a very long Shabbos until after the sun sets again in July! Because of this, as well as other doubts regarding times for davening<\/em>, it is advisable8<\/a><\/sup> that one should not live in or visit these locations during the months when the sun is always up or down.9<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Tiferes Yisroel 10<\/a><\/sup> states that at the North Pole, one should use the times for Shabbos and davening based on the location from where he came.11<\/a><\/sup> For example, if one goes from Baltimore to the North Pole, he begins and ends Shabbos and davens <\/em>at the same time residents in Baltimore begin and end Shabbos and daven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Ben Ish Chai, 12<\/a><\/sup> when the sun is above the horizon for 24 hours, or it is completely dark for 24 hours, 6:00 a.m. is considered sunrise and 6:00 p.m. is considered sunset.13<\/a><\/sup> In the \u201cmorning,\u201d one wears tallis <\/em>and tefillin<\/em>, davens Shacharis <\/em>and performs most daytime mitzvos. Shabbos begins 18 minutes before 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Shabbos ends on Saturday at 7:12 p.m., 72 minutes after the \u201creplacement sunset\u201d of 6:00 p.m. At this time, one could say the evening Shema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Moadim U\u2019Zmanim<\/em> 14<\/a><\/sup> introduces a novel approach to deal with this problem. In the summer, when the sun does not set, each new halachic <\/em>day begins and ends when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky, usually around midnight.15<\/a><\/sup> This is when Shabbos would begin on Friday and end on Saturday night. One could only fulfill mitzvos that are performed during the day (e.g. Shacharis).16<\/a><\/sup> One could not fulfill most mitzvos that may only be performed at night (e.g. reading the Shema of night).17<\/a><\/sup> In the winter, when the sun is below the horizon, the new halachic <\/em>day begins when the sun is closest to the horizon (usually around noon).18<\/a><\/sup> In Polar regions, on a day in the winter when it remains completely dark with no sunlight for 24 hours,19<\/a><\/sup> one could perform night mitzvos but not day mitzvos (e.g., Shacharis) since there is no daylight. These opinions address \u201cextreme\u201d locations, places that have days in the year without sunlight or without sunset.20<\/a><\/sup> There are also regions that do not have the distinct day and night to which we are accustomed, but do have some measure of light during the prolonged winter, and do experience sunset during summer. These areas are also of halachic <\/em>concern because they do not experience a sunrise or a complete darkness during periods of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of the various opinions, one should discuss the halacha <\/em>with his rav.<\/em> (Refer to attached map<\/a>.) The following guidelines were written with the input of Rabbi Moshe Heinemann shlit”a<\/em>, STAR-K Rabbinic Administrator:<\/p>\n\n\n\n [Note: Specific times listed are approximate and for purposes of example. There are numerous other examples beyond the scope of this article. Anyone visiting these regions must calculate specific times with his rav<\/em>.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most frequent question arises when people visit or live in Anchorage, Alaska; Stockholm, Sweden; or Oslo, Norway in the summer. Unlike the areas previously addressed, these locations are below the Arctic Circle (below the Arctic Circle means south of the Arctic Circle; above the Arctic Circle means north of the Arctic Circle closer to the North Pole) and experience sunrise and sunset 365 days a year. However, during part of the summer it never gets fully dark. When can one daven Maariv and when is Shabbos over during this time of the year? One may daven Maariv and begin Shabbos after plag hamincha <\/em>(one and one quarter halachic <\/em>hours before sunset) but he should repeat Shema just prior to chatzos halayla <\/em>(the darkest period of time). Shabbos ends shortly after that, at chatzos halayla<\/em>.21<\/a><\/sup> For example, on June 22 in Anchorage, Alaska, the sun sets at 11:43 p.m. and rises at 4:20 a.m. One may daven Maariv <\/em>and begin Shabbos after 9:42 p.m. (plag hamincha<\/em>). One should repeat Shema <\/em>at 1:55 a.m., prior to chatzos halayla<\/em>.22<\/a><\/sup> Shabbos ends at 2:02 a.m. Sunday (chatzos halayla<\/em>).23<\/a><\/sup> One may recite the complete Havdalah (<\/em>besides Borai Meoray hoaysh <\/em>if it is already dawn) <\/em>after chatzos halayla<\/em>. Alternatively, one may recite Havdalah upon arising Sunday morning (only the brachos <\/em>of Borei Pri Hagafen <\/em>and Hamavdil<\/em>).24<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n These areas experience very short days. However, twilight is exceptionally long and one waits longer25<\/a><\/sup> than in our area to end Shabbos in order to ensure the stars are visible. For example, in Anchorage on December 18, the sun rises at 10:12 a.m. and sets at 3:40 p.m. One must wait 1 hour and 29 minutes after sunset and end Shabbos at 5:09 p.m. The day is so short that one may not begin Shacharis until 9:00 a.m., and Shabbos begins at 3:22 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Almost all inhabited locations above the Arctic Circle, where the sun does not rise in the winter, experience a period of sunlight around noon.26<\/a><\/sup> One may perform day mitzvos during a segment of this period of sunlight.27<\/a><\/sup> In these locations, one may daven Shacharis and perform most daytime mitzvos (e.g., Hallel) after there is enough light to distinguish between the colors of t’cheiles <\/em>(blue\/ green) and white28<\/a><\/sup>, until chatzos hayom <\/em>(when the sunlight begins to decrease). One should daven Mincha <\/em>a half hour after chatzos hayom<\/em>. When the stars come out, Shabbos ends and one may daven Maariv. Twilight (i.e., the time when the sun is below the horizon but there is still sunlight) is longer than what we are accustomed to.29<\/a><\/sup> For example, in Barrow, located at the northern tip of Alaska, on December 1 the sun does not rise. However, at 1:15 p.m., there is the most sunlight of the day 30<\/a><\/sup> (theoretical chatzos hayom<\/em>). Therefore, one may daven Shacharis and perform daytime mitzvos between 10:40 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.31<\/a><\/sup> (during these pre-dawn light conditions) and daven Mincha <\/em>at 1:45 p.m. (1\/2 hour after chatzos <\/em>during the post-sunset conditions). Shabbos ends at 4:23 p.m. when the stars come out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/strong>Unusual and difficult questions arise when someone travels to these areas. As previously addressed, there is a dispute as to when Shabbos <\/em>begins and ends in these locations. Ideally, due to the various doubts, one should avoid living in or visiting these problem areas. However, if one must visit these locations or when flying over these locations,32<\/a><\/sup> the following halachos <\/em>apply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winter: In Completely Dark Locations<\/strong>33<\/a><\/sup> \u2013 <\/strong><\/strong>One begins and ends Shabbos <\/em>at the time indicated by the stricter opinions. \u00a0This means that one begins Shabbos before chatzos hayom <\/em>on Friday.34<\/a><\/sup> Shabbos ends 72 minutes after the \u201c6:00 p.m. shkia<\/em>\u201d35<\/a><\/sup> Saturday. One davens Maariv and recites the evening Shema between 7:00 p.m. and midnight.36<\/a><\/sup> After 6 a.m. and when it is morning in the location where one comes from, one would say K\u2019rias Shema <\/em>without brachos <\/em>and Shacharis Shemona Esrei<\/em>, \u201cal tnai<\/em>.\u201d37<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Summer: North of the Arctic Circle \u2013 <\/strong>When the sun remains above the horizon for 24 hours, one begins and ends Shabbos <\/em>at the time indicated by the stricter opinions. This means that one begins Shabbos before 6:00 p.m. on Friday.38<\/a><\/sup> Shabbos ends around midnight 39<\/a><\/sup> (30 hours after it began). For example, if someone from Baltimore travels north to Pond Inlet, Nunavut in Canada 40<\/a><\/sup> on June 28, Shabbos begins on Friday at 6:42 p.m.41<\/a><\/sup> Shabbos ends at 1:15 a.m. early Sunday morning42<\/a><\/sup>, or whenever the place he comes from finishes Shabbos, whichever is later.\u00a0One should wait until 2 1\/2 hours before \u201cchatzos halayla<\/em>\u201d (when the sun is at the lowest point) Friday night to recite Kiddush.43<\/a><\/sup> One davens daytime tefillos <\/em>at the same time as the kehilla <\/em>from which he came, and it is preferable that he also wait to fulfill the other opinions.\u00a0For example, if one travels from Baltimore to Pond Inlet on June 28, when the sun does not set, one davens Shacharis between 7:15 a.m.44<\/a><\/sup> and 9:15 a.m.45<\/a><\/sup> (being careful to recite Shema before 7:15 a.m.)46<\/a><\/sup>, and davens Mincha <\/em>after 2:15p.m.47<\/a><\/sup> One davens Maariv <\/em>on weeknights and recites Friday night Kiddush after 10:45 p.m.48<\/a><\/sup> Depending on where one came from, one may have to wait until Shabbos morning to recite the Friday night Kiddush.49<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is clear from the above that the calculation of davening times and when Shabbos begins and ends would be complicated for Jewish astronauts in outer space. Therefore, a rav <\/em>should be consulted. Ideally, one should not travel to outer space. If one must go, an astronaut would follow the opinion of the Tiferes Yisroel <\/em>for davening<\/em>, and according to some opinions keeps Shabbos anytime it is Shabbos anywhere on Earth.50<\/a><\/sup> If this is too difficult, one could rely on the Tiferes Yisroel <\/em>for Shabbos. If one orbits the earth and stays above the area that is between 45\u00b0N and 45\u00b0S, one would daven each tefilla <\/em>once per day (despite the continuous sunrise and sunset). One would keep Shabbos when it is Shabbos directly below the rocket on earth. Depending on the season and location, Shabbos could be as early as 2:00 a.m. Friday Universal Time and as late as Sunday 12:30 p.m. Universal Time. V\u2019tzarich iyun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once one has determined halachic <\/em>times for areas above the Arctic Circle, one must locate kosher food. Star-K has discovered that kosher food is available in the most remote geographic places. One can find kosher certified products near the beginning of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline at the Prudhoe Bay General Store. The Food Services Supervisor at the U.S. South Pole Observatory informed us that Star-K certified products have reached the South Pole! A physicist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Barrow, Alaska reports that many kosher products are available there. Furthermore, many years ago, the Jewish station-head gathered nine other Jewish men to form a minyan<\/em>. We hope these guidelines will serve a useful purpose for future Barrow and Arctic minyanim<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For an expanded discussion of this topic, see Sefer Shaarei Zmanim, Siman 11<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The author wishes to thank Rabbi Eli Reidler and Dr. Yossi Scheller for their invaluable assistance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Another halachic <\/em>issue that affects parts of Alaska is the International Dateline. For a full discussion, see Kashrus Kurrents<\/em>, \u201cA Traveler\u2019s Guide to the International Dateline.<\/a>\u201d For a discussion regarding halachic <\/em>issues on cruise ships, see \u201cDon\u2019t Miss the Boat: Halachic <\/em>Guidelines of Kosher Cruises.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are opposite of ours. Summer begins in December and winter begins in June. Locations south of the Antarctic Circle (66.56\u00b0S) have 24 hours of sunlight days in their summer and 24 hour sunless days in their winters. Also, in this part of the world the sun appears in the northern sky during the course of the day (in the United States, it appears in the southern sky). It should be noted that almost the entire continent of Antarctica is south of the Antarctic Circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. The Svalbard Islands include landmasses between 74\u00b0 and 81\u00b0N, up to 9\u00b0 south of the North Pole. Longyearbyen, with a population of over 1500 inhabitants, is located at 78\u00b0N.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Although the sun is below the horizon, it is close to the horizon at noon and light may be visible (similar to our experience immediately following sunset when the sun is below the horizon, yet there is still light). This will be addressed further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Located at the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island, 82.5\u00b0 N and only 507 miles from the North Pole, Alert is home to a Canadian military station and is the northernmost permanently inhabited settlement in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6.There is a permanent observatory at this location (90\u00b0 S), where scientists reside and conduct research throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Arctic Circle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Shabbos and Tefila<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A. The Minchas Elazar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
B. The Tiferes Yisroel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
C. The Ben Ish Chai<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
D. The Moadim U’Zmanim<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
E. The Halacha<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Summer Below the Arctic Circle<\/strong><\/span> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Winter Below the Arctic Circle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Winter Above the Arctic Circle \u2013 At Locations with Sunlight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Winter in Completely Dark Locations and Summer North of the Arctic Circle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Outer Space<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kosher Food<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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