Responsa for Shabbat 43:8
מתיב רב אויא סלע של
Wherein do they differ? — They differ where he lights from lamp to lamp:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Directly, without an intermediary chip. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> on the view that it is because of the cheapening of the precept, one may light from lamp to lamp;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' There is nothing degrading when it directly lights another lamp for the same religious purpose. ');"><sup>26</sup></span> but on the view that it is because he impairs the precept, even from lamp to lamp is forbidden. R. Awia objected: As to a <i>sela'</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');"><sup>27</sup></span> of
Teshuvot Maharam
Q. The oil-lamp of our synagogue emits a dense smoke which causes damage to the congregants and occasionally compels them to leave the synagogue altogether. Some persons have donated money for the purpose of buying oil for the synagogue. Must we continue to bear the smoke of the oil-lamp, or may we divert the donated money to another purpose?
A. The money may be used for buying waxen candles. The purpose for which the money was given may be changed by the members of the synagogue (though it can not be so changed by the donor) for the following reasons: a) Preparing an object for sacred use does not sanctify the object until it is actually used for such purpose; b) candles and oil used in a synagogue are not intrinsically sacred; nor are they even considered tashmishe kedushah (objects used for a sacred function) since they are not indispensable to the function of the synagogue.
SOURCES: L. 269; P. 299–300.
A. The money may be used for buying waxen candles. The purpose for which the money was given may be changed by the members of the synagogue (though it can not be so changed by the donor) for the following reasons: a) Preparing an object for sacred use does not sanctify the object until it is actually used for such purpose; b) candles and oil used in a synagogue are not intrinsically sacred; nor are they even considered tashmishe kedushah (objects used for a sacred function) since they are not indispensable to the function of the synagogue.
SOURCES: L. 269; P. 299–300.
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