Shabbos 21b

שבת כ״א ע״ב

Shabbat 21b

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

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Topic

The laws and origin of the נר חנוכה: fuel, relighting, number of lights, placement, and the miracle of the oil

Overview

This amud finishes the discussion of wicks and oils that are unfit for שבת. רב allows them for the נר חנוכה even on שבת. רבי ירמיה explains that, in רב's view, a light that went out need not be relit and its light may not be used. A story follows about אביי, who accepted this teaching only when he heard it in the name of רבי יוחנן. The גמרא then defends the rule that a light that went out need not be relit, and defines how long the lights must burn. A ברייתא gives the levels of the מצוה, including the מחלוקת between בית שמאי (start with eight and go down) and בית הלל (start with one and go up), along with two explanations of their reasons. The גמרא teaches that the light is placed outside the doorway and that a separate light is needed for ordinary use. It then tells the story of the miracle of the oil. Finally, a משנה about fire damage leads to a proof, which is then rejected, about how high the נר חנוכה should be placed. A new teaching from רבי תנחום begins, and its content comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. StatementEnd of the second opinion's reasoning
2. Statementרב's view: unfit wicks are fine for חנוכה even on שבת
3. QuestionWhat is רב's reasoning?
4. Responseרב holds no relighting and no using its light
5. Statementאביי accepts the teaching only in רבי יוחנן's name
6. ChallengeBut he did learn it in the end
7. ResolutionLearning in youth sticks better
8. ChallengeChallenge: the מצוה lasts until the market empties
9. ResolutionThe time span is for lighting late
10. ResolutionOr: the time span sets the amount of oil
11. QuestionHow long is 'until the feet leave the market'?
12. ResponseUntil the תרמודאי traders leave
13. StatementThree levels of the מצוה of חנוכה
14. Statementבית שמאי and בית הלל on decreasing or increasing the lights
15. StatementFirst explanation: counting the days ahead or the days already passed
16. StatementSecond explanation: the bulls of סוכות versus rising in holiness
17. ProofTwo elders in צידן who acted on each view
18. StatementThe נר חנוכה belongs outside the doorway
19. StatementPlacing the light upstairs or in a time of danger
20. StatementAn extra light is needed for ordinary use
21. QuestionWhat is חנוכה?
22. ResponseEight days with no eulogies or fasting
23. ResponseThe miracle of the jug of oil
24. StatementA משנה about fire damage: the spark and the camel
25. Statementרבי יהודה exempts a נר חנוכה
26. ProofLearning that the נר חנוכה belongs below ten טפחים
27. RejectionMaybe the exemption is so people won't skip the מצוה
28. StatementAttribution chain opening a new teaching about the Chanukah lamp