Ask the Rabbi · Shabbat
Why candle-lighting times differ between calendars
Answered by Rav Adiria Pinchas Machine translation · Original
Question
Why is the candle-lighting time for the very same city different by a few minutes in different calendars?
Answer
Shalom u'verachah,
I am not certain, but this matter may stem from differences in the method of calculating the time of sunset.
In addition, the candle-lighting time includes within it the time of tosefet me'chol al ha'kodesh, which is added onto the time of Shabbat, and this time is seemingly not fixed.
As far as I know, it is generally accepted to set the time for Shabbat candles in Eretz Yisrael at about 21-22 minutes before sunset. See Bi'ur Halachah, Orach Chaim siman 261, end of the passage beginning "mi'techilat ha'shki'ah".