Erev Shabbat Jewish Blogging

[gnomi]

This week, erev Shabbat and time dilation. Or, well, more like, stuf-to-fill-the-time dilation

I've come to believe that the amount of stuff one has to do before shabbat expands to fill however much time you have on erev Shabbat. Thus, in the winter, when Shabbat (in the Boston area) comes in at around 3:55, the amount of stuff you have to do almost definitely will take all the available time and you'd find yourself rushing to make sure you have everything done before candle lighting. But in the summer, when Shabbat doesn't come in until after 8 PM, one might think that you'd be able to not go rushed into Shabbat.

But, in many cases, that is not what happens. You're still rushing at 7:55 as much as you would be rushing if Shabbat came in at 3:55. Some would chalk this up to bad time managment. Me, I attribute it to a mystical force that causes everything necessary for Shabbat to expand, so that you really appreciate the relaxation of Shabbat that follows the rush to start Shabbat on time.

That said, I have 4 minutes until licht bentching. Have a good Shabbat, all.

Comments

[kuroshii.livejournal.com]

Smells like a corollary of Parkinson's Law ("work expands to fill the time allotted to it") to me. Complete with double-entendre in regards to the word "work." ;)

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I have noticed that phenomenon on many occasions... (nice seeing you yesterday!)

[magid.livejournal.com]

I used to always be ready to light candles in time to get me to shul for the beginning of mincha.... now that I'm not going to shul much, it's always the last-minute dash through the 18 minutes.

[sorek.livejournal.com]

I have the same problem but at least I know why. I have to leave work really early in the winter to get home in time, but obviously not so much in the summer. But since I feel self concious about leaving work early I try to leave as late as possible while still catching the bus. In the summer I can leave at 5:30 but that still can cut things close except when shabbos is at it's latest. So for me the problem is the bus, which seems to travel at the exact opposite of near c speeds (in other words...it's really slow)