THE BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA 5773~ PARSHAS BO ~SHABBOS IN FINLAND

This week's Parshah tells us of Moshe Rabbeinu's warning to Paraoh regarding the impending plague of makkas bechoros. Although the actual plague occurred precisely at midnight, "chatzos halayla", Moshe's warning gave an estimated time: "kachatzos", about midnight. The Gemara (Brachos 4) explains that this was done in order to prevent any misunderstanding that might occur should the plague not occur at the Egyptians'-- possibly inaccurate -- calculation of midnight. The Creator however, who is obviously aware of the precise time, struck the firstborn exactly at midnight. The Chasam Sofer adds that the time of chatzos and, by extension, the occurrence of makkas bechoros, is reckoned according to the time zone of Eretz Yisroel. Since Egypt is situated slightly to the west, its midnight is slightly later than absolute chatzos, thereby giving room for misunderstanding. Therefore, Moshe gave an estimated time instead. The Ya'avetz in Mor U'Ketziah (1) shares a similar view as the Chasam Sofer. He writes that the benefits of reciting tikkun chatzos at midnight are dependent primarily on the midnight of Eretz Yisroel. He maintains that the custom of rising at midnight in the Diaspora is merely done as a remembrance for Yerushalayim, and is not an obligation. This discussion brings us to the topic of keeping Mitzvos that are governed by time, such as Shabbos in places where the change of a day cannot be determined by astronomical factors. For example, in latitudes above the Arctic Circle, the sun doesn't set for a few weeks in the summer and it doesn't rise for a few weeks in the winter. The obvious dilemma discussed by the Poskim, is how to observe Shabbos in the absence of a seven-day cycle.(AUDIO VERSION HERE PRINT VERSION HERE