Q. (On Asarah Beteveth on Friday this year) can someone daven Mincha early, and then make an early Shabbat and eat before nightfall?

A. On question 428 we answered that Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 249:) quotes an opinion that even on a Taanis Tzibur (communal fast) you only have to fast on Erev Shabbos until you exit the shul after kabbolas Shabbos, past plag hamincha (one and one quarter hour before nightfall). However the Remoh rules that on a communal fast day such as the Tenth of Teves, you should complete the fast until nightfall.

Nitei Gavriel (Chanukah 63: 7) maintains that in the U.S.A. when needed, you can end this fast about a half an hour after the shkiah (ten minutes suffice in Israel). Some Poiskim (Yitzchak Yiranen 41) are more lenient and follow the first opinion of the Remoh (above) and permit ending the fast at the shekiah.

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that Ashkenazim should follow the opinion of the Remoh and fast until regular nightfall, however, if someone is stringent and usually keeps Rabeinu Tam’s timetable, in this case he does not have to wait the full seventy-two minutes.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a