Halakhah for Shabbat 40:15

אמר רמי בר אבין עטרנא פסולתא דזיפתא שעוה פסולתא דדובשא

NOR WITH SEAWEED. What is this? Shall we say, The black moss of pits? But that is crumbly!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A wick cannot be made from it in any case. ');">²⁴</span> Rather said R. Papa: it is the black fungus of ships. A Tanna taught: To these [enumerated in the Mishnah] were added [wicks] of wool and hair.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As being unfit for use. ');">²⁵</span> And our Tanna? — Wool shrinks [and] hair smoulders.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When lit; hence they are unfit in any case. ');">²⁶</span> NOR WITH PITCH [ZEFETH]. ZEFETH is pitch; SHA'AWAH is wax. A Tanna taught: Thus far the unfitness of wicks [is taught]; from here onwards it is the unfitness of oils.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., from PITCH. ');">²⁷</span> But that is obvious? — It is necessary in respect to wax: you may say, It is not fit for wicks either; hence we are informed [otherwise].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A waxen wick (i.e., a wax candle) is permitted. V., however, Tosaf. a.l, ');">²⁸</span> Rami b. Abin said: 'Itrona<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A sort of resin. ');">²⁹</span> is the by-product of pitch; wax is the residue of honey.

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