Commentary for Shabbat 41:12
אמר רב הונא פתילות ושמנים שאמרו חכמים אין מדליקין בהן בשבת אין מדליקין בהן בחנוכה בין בשבת בין בחול אמר רבא מאי טעמא דרב הונא קסבר כבתה זקוק לה ומותר להשתמש לאורה ורב חסדא אמר מדליקין בהן בחול אבל לא בשבת קסבר כבתה
Rami b. Hama recited: The wicks and oil which the Sages said, One may not light therewith on the Sabbath, one must [also] not light therewith in the Temple, because it is said, to cause a lamp to burn continually.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXVII, 21. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> — He recited and he interpreted it: the flame must ascend of itself, and not through something else.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Le-ha'aloth (E.V. to burn) literally means to cause to go up.-These wicks and oils do not burn of themselves but need frequent attention. V. p. 84, n. 9. ');"><sup>20</sup></span> We learnt: The outworn breeches and girdles of priests were unravelled, and with these they kindled [the lights]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The girdles contained wool, which, as stated on 20b, was added to the forbidden materials enumerated in the Mishnah. The reference is to the Temple, and thus this refutes Rami b. Hama. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> — The rejoicing of the Water-Drawing<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'the house of drawing'. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> was different.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At the daily morning service during the Feast of Tabernacles a libation of water, in addition to the usual libation of wine, was poured out on the altar. This was drawn from the Pool of Siloam on the night of the first day, and carried in procession to the Temple amid great rejoicing; cf. Suk. 53a: 'He who has not seen the rejoicing of the Water-Drawing has never seen rejoicing in his life.' The outer court of the Temple was brilliantly illuminated, and for this, not for the ordinary Temple lamp, the unravelled breeches and girdles were used. Rashi observes: because this was not a Biblical precept. Another reason may be that so much was used that it was really a fire, rather than a flame, which is permitted supra. V. J.E. XII, 476 2. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> Come and hear: Worn out priestly garments were unravelled, and of these wicks were made for the Temple. Surely that means [the garments] of composite materials?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of wool and linen. I.e., the girdles; v. n. i. ');"><sup>24</sup></span> — No: [the garments] of linen [are meant].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The breeches. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> R. Huna said: With regard to the wicks and oils which the Sages said, One must not light therewith on the Sabbath, one may not light therewith on Hanukkah,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. infra b. ');"><sup>26</sup></span> either on the Sabbath or on weekdays. Raba observed, What is R. Huna's reason? He holds that if it [the Hanukkah lamp] goes out, one must attend thereto,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., relight it. Therefore it must be made of good oil in the first place, lest it go out and is not relit.-This, of course, can only apply to weekdays. ');"><sup>27</sup></span> and one may make use of its light.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' E.g., for reading. Therefore these wicks and oils are forbidden on the Sabbath as the first reason in p. 88, n. 5, which applies here too. ');"><sup>28</sup></span> R. Hisda maintained: One may light therewith on weekdays, but not on the Sabbath. He holds, If it goes out,