Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Shabbat 243:11

תא שמע נר הדלוק במסיבה אם רוב נכרים מותר להשתמש לאורה אם רוב ישראל אסור מחצה על מחצה אסור התם נמי כי מדלקי

and so it goes [there] and eats. The Master said: 'When is that? If he does not know him; but if he knows him, it is forbidden.' But R. Gamaliel [is a case where] he knew him?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since he travelled with R. Gamaliel in the boat. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> — Said Abaye: It was not [made] in his presence.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Then the Gentile certainly did not make it for him. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> Raba said: You may even say that it was in his presence: 'a lamp for one is a lamp for a hundred.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He needed the gangway for himself, and there is no extra work even if he had R. Gamaliel in mind. But one may cut more grass on the Jew's account. ');"><sup>20</sup></span> An objection is raised: R. Gamaliel said to them, 'Since he did not make it in our presence, let us go down by it?' — Say: 'Since he made it, let us go down by it.' Come and hear: If a city inhabited by Israelites and Gentiles contains baths where there is bathing on the Sabbath, if the majority are Gentiles, one [an Israelite] may bathe therein immediately;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' After the Sabbath, because it was heated primarily for Gentiles. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> if the majority are Israelites, one must walt until hot water could be heated.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' After the Sabbath, so as not to benefit from the heating of the water on the Sabbath. Now, the water had to be heated for the Gentiles in any case, and there is no real difference between heating for one or for many; further, it was not heated in the Jews' presence, yet one must not benefit from it. This contradicts both Abaye and Raba. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> — There, when they heat, they do so with a view to the majority.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence it is regarded as specifically for Jews. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> Come and hear: If a lamp is burning at a banqueting party:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Having been lit on the Sabbath. ');"><sup>24</sup></span> if the majority are Gentiles, one may make use of its light; if the majority are Israelites, it is forbidden; if half and half, it is forbidden?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This contradicts Raba. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> — There too, when they light it,

Explore commentary for Shabbat 243:11. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.

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