Shabbos 22b

שבת כ״ב ע״ב

Shabbat 22b

Learn Shabbos 22b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 22b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Lighting one חנוכה lamp from another (מנר לנר), and the איבעיא of whether הדלקה or הנחה fulfills the מצוה

Overview

This amud continues the מחלוקת between רב, who forbids lighting one חנוכה lamp from another (מנר לנר), and שמואל, who permits it. First, a ברייתא about מעשר שני seems to refute שמואל: holy money may not be used as a weight, even to redeem other מעשר שני. רבה answers that this ban is a special גזירה that applies only to weighing. Next, רב ששת challenges רב from the מנורה in the מקדש, where the other lamps were lit from the miraculous נר מערבי. That practice seems to contradict both reasons given for רב: בזוי מצוה and אכחושי מצוה. רב פפא answers that long wicks were used, which saves the בזוי מצוה reason, but the אכחושי מצוה reason remains a קשיא. רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע then rules that the law depends on whether the lighting (הדלקה) or the placing (הנחה) is the act that fulfills the מצוה. The גמרא brings this question as an איבעיא. It pushes off two proofs from רבא, since in both cases an onlooker would think the lamp was for personal use. The amud ends as the גמרא starts a third proof from רבי יהושע בן לוי, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. ChallengeA ברייתא about weighing gold against מעשר שני money
2. ChallengeWhether the ברייתא refutes שמואל depends on the wood chip
3. Resolutionרבה: the weighing case has its own special concern
4. Challengeרב ששת opens a challenge from the מנורה in the מקדש
5. QuestionWhat was the testimony?
6. Responseרב: the miracle of the נר מערבי
7. ChallengeThe fixed lamps required lighting with a wood chip
8. Resolutionרב פפא: the wicks were long
9. ChallengeThe weakening reason is still contradicted
10. ConclusionThe challenge stays unanswered
11. QuestionWhat is the final ruling?
12. Conclusionרב הונא: it depends on whether lighting or placing is the מצוה
13. QuestionThe open question: lighting or placing?
14. ProofFirst proof: holding the lamp does not count
15. RejectionPushing off the first proof: onlookers will misread it
16. ProofSecond proof: lighting inside and carrying it out does not count
17. RejectionPushing off the second proof: the same onlooker problem
18. ProofOpening a third proof from רבי יהושע בן לוי