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- Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Answer: While the best option (someone else lighting) is unavailable, both of your options are supported by significant but minority opinions.
The gemara (Shabbat 23b) says that one should not light Shabbat candles too early, because it is not clear that it is being done for Shabbat (Rashi ad loc.). The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 263:4) rules that this is problematic even after plhm if she does not accept Shabbat at that time and that it cannot be before plhm, which is too early to accept Shabbat (Magen Avraham 261:10). Therefore, the standard assumption of poskim is that it is impossible to fulfill the mitzva of candle lighting before plhm (see Be’ur Halacha to 263:4; Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchata 43:12: Orchot Shabbat 33:35).
However, it is possible to question this assumption. Firstly, on a certain level, avoiding lighting "too early" may be only l’chatchila (Mishna Berura 263:20 regarding after plhm but well before sunset without accepting Shabbat). While many apply this only after plhm, others say that plhm is a strict cutoff only for ushering in a new day early, not for candle lighting done for Shabbat use (Eretz Tzvi I:103, based on R. Akiva Eiger on Rama, OC 263:4). Second, some Rishonim and poskim allow lighting two hours before nightfall (see Be’ur Halacha ibid.). On the other hand, Orchot Shabbat (35:(83)) says that this is said only within Rabbeinu Tam’s opinion that nightfall is very late.
We can logically add that if the problem before plhm is that it is too early to connect a lighting to Shabbat the situation is different in the summer in places where it is common to accept Shabbat soon after plhm. Would anyone watching you light candles and run to Mincha, followed by Kabbalat Shabbat, think that you did not light for Shabbat?! This is strengthened by the fact that you, as a man, do not accept Shabbat for around a half hour after lighting candles, all year. Furthermore, nowadays virtually the only reason to light candles is for Shabbat. Despite these arguments, I cannot recommend relying on and certainly not making a beracha on a lighting that the consensus of poskim says is ineffective for the formal mitzva.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions (652)
Rabbi Daniel Mann
659 - ASK THE RABBI: TEACHING HAGBAHA TO A SON
660 - ASK THE RABBI: EARLY LIGHTING AND/OR LATE BERACHA
661 - ASK THE RABBI: COVERING ONE’S FACE DURING BIRKAT KOHANIM
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Indeed, a venerable opinion says that one who will be out of the house at the time of lighting can light before leaving and make the beracha upon returning. Most poskim reject the idea (Magen Avraham 263:11; Mishna Berura 263:21) of making a beracha on a light that was already lit, but the opinion is not fully rejected (see Be’ur Halacha to 263:5).
In short, each of your ideas is reasonable from a halachic perspective. On the other hand, as practical Halacha, neither is recommended. My recommendation is to daven Mincha earlier, light candles at plhm, and proceed immediately to Kabbalat Shabbat, where you need not be more than a couple of minutes late. However, if a rav with whom you confer recommends one of your approaches, I have no qualms.
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