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Shabbos 21a

שבת כ״א ע״א

Shabbat 21a

Learn Shabbos 21a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 21a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Forbidden wicks and oils: their reasons, mixing them with good oil, and their use in the מקדש and for חנוכה lights

Overview

This amud continues the משנה of במה מדליקין about which wicks and oils may be used for the שבת lamp. It begins by saying that רמי בר אבין's identification of by-products matters for buying and selling. A ברייתא then teaches that the forbidden materials may still be used for a bonfire, and are banned only as lamp wicks. The גמרא gives three views on what שמן קיק is, and רבה explains that the forbidden wicks make the flame flicker while the forbidden oils are not drawn up the wick. אביי asks whether a forbidden oil mixed with a little good oil may be lit, and רבה forbids it. רבה's ruling survives a challenge from the wick wrapped around a nut, which turns out to be only for floating. It also survives a challenge from רב's ruling on melted fat, which rests on the rule that there is no גזירה לגזירה. רמי בר חמא then teaches that the same wicks and oils are banned in the מקדש because the flame must rise by itself, and two challenges from priestly clothing are answered. Finally, רב הונא bans these materials for חנוכה lights even on weekdays, while רב חסדא allows them on weekdays, and his reasoning continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

לְמַאי נָפְקָא מִינַּהּ?

For what is there a practical difference?

לְמִקָּח וּמִמְכָּר.

For buying and selling.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן:

The Sages taught:

כׇּל אֵלּוּ שֶׁאָמְרוּ

All those materials about which they said

The steps (32)

  1. QuestionWhat practical difference does the previous teaching make?
  2. ResponseIt matters for buying and selling
  3. StatementForbidden wick materials may still be used for a bonfire
  4. QuestionWhat is שמן קיק?
  5. Responseשמואל: קיק is a sea bird
  6. Responseרב יצחק בריה דרב יהודה: cotton oil
  7. Responseריש לקיש: the plant קיקיון of יונה
  8. Proofרבה בר בר חנה describes the קיקיון he saw
  9. Statementרבה gives the reasons for the forbidden wicks and oils
  10. Questionאביי asks about adding good oil to forbidden oils
  11. Responseרבה forbids the mixture
  12. Challengeאביי challenges from the wick wrapped around a nut
  13. Rejectionרבה points to the תנא קמא instead
  14. ResolutionWhy אביי chose רבן שמעון בן גמליאל: an action carries weight
  15. ChallengeThe challenge returns: wasn't the nut meant to burn?
  16. ResolutionThe nut was only for floating the wick
  17. ChallengeThen why would the תנא קמא forbid it?
  18. ResolutionThe whole ברייתא is רבן שמעון בן גמליאל, with words missing
  19. ChallengeChallenge from רב: adding oil to melted fat is allowed
  20. ResolutionFat and fish innards burn well; they are banned only by decree
  21. ChallengeWhy not also decree on the mixed fat?
  22. ResolutionNo decree on top of a decree
  23. StatementThe banned wicks and oils are also banned in the מקדש
  24. StatementHow the verse teaches it: the flame must rise by itself
  25. ChallengeChallenge: wicks from the belts of the כהנים were used
  26. Resolutionשמחת בית השואבה is different
  27. ChallengeChallenge: wicks for the מקדש from בגדי כהונה
  28. ResolutionOnly the linen clothes were used
  29. Statementרב הונא: the banned wicks are banned for חנוכה too
  30. Questionרבא asks for רב הונא's reason
  31. ResponseIf it goes out you must fix it, and its light may be used
  32. Statementרב חסדא: allowed on weekdays, not on שבת