Does everyone in my family have to accept Shabbos at the same time?

 

Question:

Hi, due to covid-19 my shul is only having an early minyan on Friday night. I’m 13. But my father and the rest of my family wont be able to make it to shul at 7.

Would I be allowed to go to that early minyan and accept Shabbos early even though the rest of my family has not accepted Shabbos and my mother has not lit candles. Does everyone in my family have to accept Shabbos at the same time?

So should I therefore not go to minyan at all or should I just accept shabbos earlier than the rest of my family.

 

Answer:

The rest of the family does not need to be mikabel Shabbos.

However, it is important to note that if this is the only shul in the town and most* men are present by maariv, your entire family has to be mikabel Shabbos when the minyan says the first borchu, regardless if you are by the minyan or not.

 

* Women are not included in the equation of the majority of the city, according to AR Kuntres Acharon 263:7 that “ein tzibur l’nashim”. An individual who is shomer Shabbos is bound by the community (or majority of the community) accepting Shabbos through davening, even if they are not sufficiently observant in the laws of Shabbos – Responsa Bis’day Shlichus (R. Levi Yitzchok Raskin, England). However, the lack of acceptance of Shabbos by the majority of Jewish people in the city who are not observant is not significant to permit one to do melacha (Halichos Shlomo Tefillah 14:3).

 – footnote 32 from the comprehensive guide for accepting Shabbos early

 

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