## Shabbat Daf 20b

###### Shabbat 20b:1
[Shabbat 20b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:1)

אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא: קָנִים שֶׁאֲגָדָן — צְרִיכִין רוֹב, לֹא אֲגָדָן — אֵין צְרִיכִין רוֹב. גַּרְעִינִין — צְרִיכִין רוֹב, נְתָנָן בְּחוֹתָלוֹת — אֵין צְרִיכִין רוֹב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
on a similar note, **Rav Kahana said: Reeds that one tied them** into a bundle, **require** that **most** of them ignite. If **one did not tie them** into a bundle, **they do not require** that **most** of them ignite, in accordance with the statement of Rav Huna. However, **seeds require** that **most** of them ignite. And if **he placed them in woven baskets, they do not require** that **most** of them catch fire.


###### Shabbat 20b:2
[Shabbat 20b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:2)

תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: אַרְבַּע מְדוּרוֹת אֵין צְרִיכִין רוֹב: שֶׁל זֶפֶת, וְשֶׁל גׇּפְרִית, וְשֶׁל גְּבִינָה, וְשֶׁל רְבָב. בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא: אַף שֶׁל קַשׁ וְשֶׁל גְּבָבָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Yosef taught** a *baraita*: **Four bonfires do not require** that **most** of the flammable materials catch fire, as their materials burn easily once the fire takes hold of them. And they are: A bonfire **of pitch, and of sulfur, and of** dry **cheese, and of fatty** materials. And **it was taught in a *baraita***: A bonfire **of straw and** one **of rakings** of wood gathered from the field **also** do not require that most of it catch fire.


###### Shabbat 20b:3
[Shabbat 20b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:3)

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: עֵצִים שֶׁל בָּבֶל אֵין צְרִיכִין רוֹב. מַתְקִיף לַהּ רַב יוֹסֵף: מַאי הִיא? אִילֵימָא סִילְתֵּי — הַשְׁתָּא פְּתִילָה אָמַר עוּלָּא הַמַּדְלִיק צָרִיךְ שֶׁיַּדְלִיק בְּרוֹב הַיּוֹצֵא, סִילְתֵּי מִבַּעְיָא? אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: שׂוֹכָא דְאַרְזָא. רָמֵי בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר: זָאזָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Babylonian wood does not require** that **most** of it catch fire. **Rav Yosef** the Babylonian **objects: What is that** wood that they use in Babylonia that burns so well? **If you say** that it refers to wood **slivers** used for burning and light, **now** that with regard to **a wick, Ulla said** that **one who lights** it for a Shabbat lamp **must light most of what emerges** from the vessel; **is it necessary** to mention with regard to wood **slivers** that most of them must be lit? **Rather, Rav Yosef said:** Certainly the reference is to **the branch of** a **cedar** tree. And **Rami bar Abba said:** The reference here is to a **hyssop** [***zaza***].


###### Shabbat 20b:4
[Shabbat 20b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:4)

**הדרן עלך יציאות השבת**

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**We shall return to you, Yiziot HaShabbat**


###### Shabbat 20b:5
[Shabbat 20b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:5)

מַתְנִי׳ **בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין** וּבַמָּה אֵין מַדְלִיקִין? אֵין מַדְלִיקִין לֹא בְּלֶכֶשׁ, וְלֹא בְּחוֹסֶן, וְלֹא בְּכָלָךְ, וְלֹא בִּפְתִילַת הָאִידָן, וְלֹא בִּפְתִילַת הַמִּדְבָּר, וְלֹא בִּירוֹקָה שֶׁעַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם, וְלֹא בְּזֶפֶת, וְלֹא בְּשַׁעֲוָה, וְלֹא בְּשֶׁמֶן קִיק, וְלֹא בְּשֶׁמֶן שְׂרֵיפָה, וְלֹא בְּאַלְיָה, וְלֹא בְּחֵלֶב. נַחוּם הַמָּדִי אוֹמֵר: מַדְלִיקִין בְּחֵלֶב מְבוּשָּׁל. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: אֶחָד מְבוּשָּׁל וְאֶחָד שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְבוּשָּׁל אֵין מַדְלִיקִין בּוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
This mishna cites a list of fuels and wicks that one may not use in kindling the Shabbat lights, either because their use might induce one to perform a prohibited labor on Shabbat or because they are not in keeping with the deference due Shabbat. The mishna begins by listing the materials that one may not use as wicks. That is followed by a list of the substances that one may not use as fuel.

**MISHNA:** **With what may one light** the Shabbat lamp, **and with what may one not light** it? With regard to types of prohibited wicks, one may light **neither with cedar bast [*lekhesh*], nor with uncombed flax [*ḥosen*], nor with raw silk [*kalakh*], nor with willow bast [*petilat ha*’*idan*], nor with desert weed [*petilat hamidbar*], nor with green** moss **that is on** the **surface of the water.** With regard to types of prohibited oils, one may light **neither with pitch [*zefet*], nor with wax [*sha*’*ava*], nor with castor oil [*shemen kik*], nor with burnt oil [*shemen sereifa*], nor with** fat from **a sheep’s tail [*alya*], nor with tallow [*ḥelev*]. Naḥum the Mede says: One may light with boiled tallow. And the Rabbis say: Both** tallow that was **boiled and** tallow that was **not boiled, one may not light with them.**


###### Shabbat 20b:6
[Shabbat 20b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:6)

**גְּמָ׳** לֶכֶשׁ — שׂוֹכָא דְאַרְזָא. שׂוֹכָא דְאַרְזָא עֵץ בְּעָלְמָא הוּא! בְּעַמְרָנִיתָא דְּאִית בֵּיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** Most of the terms used in the mishna were not understood in Babylonia. Therefore, the Gemara translated and clarified them. We learned in the mishna that one may not light with *lekhesh*. The Gemara explains that ***lekhesh*** is the **branch of the cedar** tree. The Gemara asks: Isn’t the **cedar mere wood?** How would one fashion a wick out of wood? The Gemara answers: The mishna is referring to **the woolly** substance **that is** beneath its bark.


###### Shabbat 20b:7
[Shabbat 20b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:7)

וְלֹא בְּחוֹסֶן. אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: נְעוֹרֶת שֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְהָכְתִיב ״וְהָיָה הֶחָסוֹן לִנְעוֹרֶת״, מִכְּלָל דְּחוֹסֶן לָאו נְעוֹרֶת הוּא! אֶלָּא אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: כִּיתָּנָא דִּדְיִיק וְלָא נְפִיץ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna taught further that **one may not** light **with *ḥosen*. Rav Yosef said:** *Ḥosen* is **tow,** thin chaff that falls off the stalk **of** combed **flax. Abaye said to him: Isn’t it written: “And the *ḥason* shall be as tow”** (Isaiah 1:31)? **By inference, *ḥosen* is not tow. Rather, Abaye said:** *Ḥosen* is **flax whose** stalk **was crushed** but **not** yet **combed.** The threads in the stalk are still covered by a shell and therefore do not burn well.


###### Shabbat 20b:8
[Shabbat 20b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:8)

וְלֹא בְּכָלָךְ. אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: שְׁאֵלְתִּינְהוּ לְכׇל נָחוֹתֵי יַמָּא וְאָמְרִי (לַהּ) כּוּלְכָא שְׁמֵיהּ. רַב יִצְחָק בַּר זְעֵירָא אָמַר: גּוּשְׁקְרָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** we also learned in the mishna that **one may not** light **with *kalakh*. Shmuel said: I asked all seafarers, and they said to me** that the present-day **name** of *kalakh* mentioned in the mishna **is *kulka*. Rav Yitzḥak bar Ze’ira said:** *Kalakh* is **the cocoon of the silkworm [*gushkera*].**


###### Shabbat 20b:9
[Shabbat 20b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:9)

רָבִין וְאַבָּיֵי הֲווֹ יָתְבִי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבָּנָא נְחֶמְיָה אֲחוּהּ דְּרֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא. חַזְיֵיהּ דַּהֲוָה לְבִישׁ מְטַכְסָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבִין לְאַבָּיֵי: הַיְינוּ כָּלָךְ דִּתְנַן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנַן ״שִׁירָא פְּרַנְדָּא״ קָרֵינַן לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates that **Ravin and Abaye were sitting before Rabbana Neḥemya, brother of the Exilarch.** Ravin **saw that** Rabbana Neḥemya **was wearing *metaksa*,** a type of silk. **Ravin said to Abaye: This is** the ***kalakh* that we learned** in our mishna. Abaye **said to him: We call it *shira peranda*.**


###### Shabbat 20b:10
[Shabbat 20b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:10)

מֵיתִיבִי: הַשִּׁירָאִים וְהַכָּלָךְ וְהַסְּרִיקִין חַיָּיבִין בְּצִיצִית, תְּיוּבְתָּא דְרָבִין! תְּיוּבְתָּא. אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: שִׁירָא לְחוּד, וְשִׁירָא פְּרַנְדָּא לְחוּד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara **raises an objection** from that which we learned: **The *shira*’*im*, the *kalakh,* and the *sirikin*,** different types of silk, all **require ritual fringes.** Apparently, *shira*’*im* and *kalakh* are different types of silk. This is **a conclusive refutation** of the statement of **Ravin** who identified *kalakh* with *shira peranda*. The Gemara responds: Indeed, it is **a conclusive refutation. If you wish, say** instead that ***shira*** is a **distinct** entity, **and *shira peranda* is** a **distinct** entity. *Shira peranda* is *kalakh*.


###### Shabbat 20b:11
[Shabbat 20b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:11)

וְלֹא בִּפְתִילַת הָאִידָן — אַחְוִינָא. רָבִין וְאַבָּיֵי הֲווֹ קָאָזְלִי בְּפַקְתָּא דְטַמְרוּרִיתָא. חֲזַנְהִי לְהָנְהוּ אַרְבָתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבִין לְאַבָּיֵי: הַיְינוּ אִידָן דִּתְנַן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַהִיא עֵץ בְּעָלְמָא הוּא! קְלַף וְאַחְוִי לֵיהּ עַמְרָנִיתָא דְּבֵינֵי בֵּינֵי. וְלֹא בִּפְתִילַת הַמִּדְבָּר — שַׁבְרָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** we learned in the mishna that **one may not** light **with *petilat ha*’*idan*.** The Gemara explains that *petilat ha*’*idan* is **willow,** which does not burn well. The Gemara relates that **Ravin and Abaye were walking in the valley of Tamrurita. They saw these willow** trees. **Ravin said to Abaye: This is** the ***idan* that we learned** in the mishna. Abaye **said to him:** But **this is mere wood.** How would one fashion a wick from it? Ravin **peeled** the bark **and showed him the wool-**like substance **between** the bark and the tree. We also learned in the mishna: **Nor with desert silk [*petilat hamidbar*].** That is **the mullein** plant, which does not burn well.


###### Shabbat 20b:12
[Shabbat 20b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:12)

וְלֹא בִּירוֹקָה שֶׁעַל כּוּ׳. מַאי הִיא? אִילֵימָא אוּכַּמְתָּא דַחֲרִיצֵי — אִיפָּרוֹכֵי מִפָּרְכָן. אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: אוּכַּמְתָּא דְּאַרְבָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** we learned in the mishna that **one may not** use the **green** moss **that is on** the surface of the water to fashion a wick for lighting the Shabbat lamp. The Gemara asks: **What is this** green moss? **If you say** that it is the **moss found on standing water,** isn’t that moss **brittle** and therefore unfit material from which to fashion a wick? **Rather, Rav Pappa said:** It is referring to **the moss** that accumulates **on ships,** which is more pliable and when dried can be fashioned into a wick.


###### Shabbat 20b:13
[Shabbat 20b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:13)

תָּנָא: הוֹסִיפוּ עֲלֵיהֶן שֶׁל צֶמֶר וְשֶׁל שֵׂעָר. וְתַנָּא דִידַן: צֶמֶר מִכְווֹץ כָּוֵויץ, שֵׂעָר אִיחֲרוֹכֵי מִיחֲרַךְ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**It was taught** in a *baraita*: The Sages **added to** the list of prohibited wicks in the mishna those made **of wool and hair** as well. The Gemara remarks: **And our *tanna*** did not consider it necessary to enumerate these because it is virtually impossible to fashion wicks from these materials, as, when they burn, **wool shrinks** and **hair is scorched.** Consequently, they are unsuitable for use as wicks.


###### Shabbat 20b:14
[Shabbat 20b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:14)

וְלֹא בְּזֶפֶת. זֶפֶת — זִיפְתָּא, שַׁעֲוָה — קִירוּתָא. תָּנָא: עַד כָּאן פְּסוּל פְּתִילוֹת, מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ פְּסוּל שְׁמָנִים. פְּשִׁיטָא! שַׁעֲוָה אִיצְטְרִיכָא לֵיהּ. מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא לִפְתִילוֹת נָמֵי לָא חַזְיָא, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** we learned in the mishna that one may **not** use ***zefet*** or *sha*’*ava* as fuel in lighting the Shabbat lamp. The Gemara explains that ***zefet*** is **pitch,** and ***sha*’*ava*** is **wax. It was taught** in a *baraita*: **Until this point,** the word *zefet*, the mishna is dealing with **disqualification** of materials unfit for use as **wicks,** and **from this point on** it is dealing with **disqualification** of substances unfit for use as **oils.** The Gemara asks: **Obviously,** a wick cannot be made from pitch and similar materials. The Gemara answers: **It was necessary** for the mishna to mention **wax, lest you say** that it is **also unfit for use** as a coating **for wicks,** in the manner that wicks are usually made. **Therefore, it teaches us** that even though wax is unfit for use as oil, it is fit for use as coating for wicks.


###### Shabbat 20b:15
[Shabbat 20b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/20b:15)

אָמַר רָמֵי בַּר אָבִין: עִטְרָנָא — פְּסוּלְתָּא דְזִיפְתָּא. שַׁעֲוָה — פְּסוּלְתָּא דְּדוּבְשָׁא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rami bar Avin said: Tar [*itran*]** is the **by-product of pitch.** When wood is burned to extract pitch, a clearer liquid oozes out after the pitch, and that is tar. Similarly, **wax** is the **by-product of honey.**