Shabbos 23a

שבת כ״ג ע״א

Shabbat 23a

Learn Shabbos 23a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 23a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

נר חנוכה: lighting is the מצוה, who may light, oils, the ברכות and their basis, and lighting at two entrances because of חשד.

Overview

The גמרא proves from a ברייתא about a lantern, and from the wording of the ברכה, that הדלקה עושה מצוה: the lighting is the מצוה. So a חרש, שוטה, or קטן cannot light, but a woman can, since women were also part of the miracle. רב ששת rules that an אכסנאי must take part in נר חנוכה, and רבי זירא tells how he did this. רבי יהושע בן לוי teaches that all oils are fine for the lamp and for ink, but שמן זית is best, and the גמרא briefly discusses how ink is made. Next come the ברכות: both the one who lights and the one who sees make a ברכה, and שהחיינו is said only on the first night. The גמרא explains that we can say 'וצונו' on a rabbinic מצוה because of 'לא תסור'. It then asks why דמאי gets no ברכה, and אביי and רבא answer in different ways. Finally, a חצר with entrances on two sides needs two lights because of חשד, and the גמרא begins to prove from the laws of פאה that the תורה cares about suspicion. That proof continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (40)

1. ProofA lantern that burned all through שבת
2. ProofWhy the lantern case shows lighting is the מצוה
3. ProofA second proof from the wording of the blessing
4. ConclusionConclusion: lighting is the מצוה
5. StatementA חרש, שוטה, or קטן cannot light
6. StatementA woman may certainly light
7. StatementA guest is obligated in נר חנוכה
8. Statementרבי זירא's practice as a guest
9. StatementAll oils are fine, olive oil is best
10. Statementרבה switched from sesame oil to olive oil
11. StatementAll oils work for ink, olive oil is best
12. QuestionIs olive oil best for mixing or for burning?
13. ResponseA ברייתא says olive oil is best both ways
14. StatementAnother version: all smoke works, olive oil is best
15. StatementAll saps work for ink, balsam sap is best
16. StatementThe one who lights makes a ברכה
17. StatementEven the one who sees the lights makes a ברכה
18. StatementHow many ברכות on the first night and after
19. QuestionWhich ברכה drops out after the first night?
20. Responseשהחיינו drops out
21. ChallengeWhy not drop the miracle ברכה instead?
22. ResolutionThe miracle lasted every day
23. QuestionWhat is the wording of the ברכה?
24. Response'אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק'
25. QuestionWhere did ה' command us about חנוכה?
26. ResponseSource: 'לא תסור'
27. ResponseSource: 'שאל אביך ויגדך'
28. Challengeדמאי: a rabbinic rule with no ברכה
29. ResolutionA definite rabbinic מצוה gets a ברכה; a rule made for a doubt does not
30. Challengeיום טוב שני is based on doubt, yet it needs a ברכה
31. ResolutionThe second day gets a blessing so people won't take it lightly
32. Resolutionרבא: most עמי הארץ do tithe, so דמאי is not a real doubt
33. StatementA חצר with two entrances needs two נרות חנוכה
34. Statementרבא: only when the entrances face different directions
35. QuestionWhat is the reason, and whose suspicion are we worried about?
36. ChallengeNeither outsiders nor locals fit רבא's rule
37. ResolutionIt is the locals' suspicion, because they may pass only one entrance
38. QuestionWhere do we learn that we worry about suspicion?
39. Proofרבי שמעון: four reasons to leave פאה at the end of the field
40. StatementExplaining the first reason: stealing from the poor