The מלבי״ם was once at a gathering which was attended by prominent members of his community. Among those present was a man whose family name was Stern, which translates as כוכב. As the gathering ended and the assembled prepared to pray מעריב, Stern, who was known to be מזלזל במצוות, disappeared from the room together with his family. When this was mentioned to the מלבי״ם, he said: “הוא נהג כדין. שהרי הלכה פסוקה היא: אין מתפללים מעריב לפני צאת הכוכבים.”
05/07/2020