The Jerusalem Talmud Jerusalem Talmud Shabbat 2.3

English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

MISHNAH: One does not kindle with any wood product but flax. No wood product may become impure by tent impurity but flax. A wick braided from textile which was threaded but not singed, Rebbi Eliezer says it may become impure and one does not use it to kindle; Rebbi Aqiba says it does not become impure and one may use it to kindle.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

HALAKHAH: Mishnah. “One does not kindle with any wood product but flax,” etc. Rebbi Simeon bar Rav Isaac said it is written: to raise permanent light. They estimated to say that nothing makes a flame like flax. It was stated: “Rebbi Simeon ben Eleazar said, no wood product is subject to the three-by-three rule except flax and one may use it as roofing, except flax.” Rebbi Yose said, they made it like coarse or soft, as we have stated: “the coarse and the soft are not subject to the three-by-three rule.” Rebbi Eleazar said, they learned it from the Tabernacle as it is written, the Sanctuary you shall make ten gobelins, twilled byssus; and it is written, linen turbansshall be on their heads. You learn byssus from byssus, and byssus from turbans, and turbans from turbans.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Eleazar asked, may one make the Tent of leather from an impure animal? But is it not written, and taḥaš skins. Rebbi Jehudah, Rebbi Nehemiah and the rabbis. Rebbi Jehudah says, violet; it was called thus because of its color. Rebbi Nehemiah said, blue. But the rabbis say, a kind of pure animal which grows up in the desert. It comes like what Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Yose, Rebbi Abbahu, Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish in the name of Rebbi Meïr said: The Holy One, praise to Him, created for Moses in the desert a kind of pure aniMal. After the work of the Tabernacle had been finished it was hidden. Rebbi Abun said, its name was qereš. Rebbi Hoshaia stated, a unicorn. It is preferable to the Eternal over a cattle ox which sprouts a horn and has split hooves. The All-Merciful wrote, it sprouts a horn.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

There, we have stated: “A [cloth] less than three by three [fingerwidths] which he took to plug the bath or to pour a pot or to clean a millstone, whether it was prepared or not prepared can become impure, the words of Rebbi Eliezer. Rebbi Joshua says, (also a new rag) whether prepared or not prepared, is pure. Rebbi Aqiba says, prepared it may become impure, not prepared it is pure.” What is the difference between prepared and not prepared? Whether he made it ready in the house or threw it into the garbage. But did we not state: “Rebbi Eliezer says, also a new rag follows the same rule.” Nobody says “also”, “even”, unless he agree with the preceding; whether he prepared it to hang it up or did not prepare it to hang it up. This learns from the other and the other learns from this. This learns from the other; the words of Rebbi Eliezer if he folded it. And the other learns from this; if he did not prepare it to hang it up. But if he prepared it to hang it up it may become impure.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

What is Rebbi Eliezer’s reason? He is like one who purifies vessels on the Sabbath. When he threaded it, it did not become pure since professional waiters like it threaded. Does it not become pure when it still is daylight? Rebbi Eleazar in the name of Rebbi Hoshaia: because of a holiday which falls on Friday. Does it not become pure automatically? Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun said, explain it if it was exactly three-by-three.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Aḥa, Rebbi Simon in the name of Rebbi Simeon the nazir: If he made it into a bandage it is pure. If one dipped it in oil is it not as if he made a bandage? Rebbi Zeˋira, Rebbi Yannai, Rebbi Jeremiah in the name of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi, logically practice should follow Rebbi Aqiba who is similar to both, but in fact it follows Rebbi Joshua who is lenient in the matter of three-by-three. Not only pure but even impure, because of Rav, since Rav said one heats with vessels, but one does not heat with pieces of vessels.

Jerusalem Talmud Shabbat 2.3

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