1)

(a)When the Mishnah forbids the use of 'Lechesh, Chosen and Chalach' regarding Ner Shabbos, it is referring to the wicks that one may not use to kindle an oil-lamp on Shabbos.

(b)'Lechesh' is a woolly substance that is to be found between the bark and the wood of a cedar-tree ...

1. ... 'Chosen' is - un-spun flax and ...

2. ... 'Chalach' - the refuse of silk.

(c)The Tana concludes this list with 'Pesilas ha'Idan (a woolly substance that is to be found between the bark and the wood of a willow-tree) ...

1. ... Pesilas ha'Midbar - the leaves of a long herb that are used in wick-making, and ...

2. ... Yerokah she'al P'nei ha'Mayim' - barnacles (a green, wooly substance that grows on a ship that has been standing for a long period in the water).

(d)The Chachamim forbade the use of these wicks - because they do not absorb the oil well, with the result that the flame mer outside of the wick, with the result that the user will either turn up the wick or leave the room (thereby negating the purpose of the Shabbos-lights.

2)

(a)A second list includes 'pitch, wax and Shemen Kik', which means either the oil manufactured from cotton seeds - or the Kikayon-tree of Yonah (the castor-oil plant).

(b)This list (as opposed to the previous one) incorporates - the fuel that one may not use to kindle an oil-lamp on Shabbos.

(c)The Chachamim forbade them - because they do not burn well, with the same results as the forbidden wicks.

3)

(a)They added to the list 'Shemen Sereifah, Alyah (the fat-tail of a sheep) and Cheilev'. Shemen S'reifah is - Terumah oil that became Tamei, which one is permitted to use as fuel.

(b)One may not use it on ...

1. ... Yom-Tov that falls on Erev Shabbos since it is forbidden to burn Kodshim on Yom-Tov.

2. ... on a regular Erev Shabbos - on account of Yom-Tov that falls on Erev Shabbos.

(c)Alyah is a specific kind of Chelev found on the tail of a sheep.

(d)The Chachamim forbade the items on this list because they do not burn smoothely and we are afraid that someone might try to fix it on Shabbos. Alternatively, he might leave the room and remain in the darkness.

4)

(a)Nachum ha'Madi permits the use of Cheilev - provided it has been cooked (and has therefore melted [see Tif'eres Yisrael]).

(b)The Chachamim forbid it - even if it has been cooked.

(c)The problem with the Chachamim's ruling is - that it appears to echo the opinion of the Tana Kama, who also forbids Cheilev, irrespective ... .

(d)We solve it - by establishing the Machlokes between them there where the cooked oil is mixed with a small amount of ordinary oil, though we do not know which opinion forbids it and which one permits it.

(e)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim (see Tif'eres Yisrael).

5)

(a)We already discussed the prohibition of using Shemen Sereifah for Ner Shabbos in the previous Mishnah. The reason the Tana sees fit to now teach us the prohibition of burning Shemen Sereifah on Yom-Tov (even though we are not dealing with the Dinim of Yom-Tov here) is - to present the reason for the prohibition on Shabbos.

(b)Rebbi Yishmael forbids the use of Itran (the residue of pitch) for the Shabbos lights - because, due to its unpleasant smell, it is not Kavod Shabbos.

(c)He does not forbid it because it does not burn well - since it actually draws up the wick better than pitch itself.

(d)The Chachamim - who permit basically all oils, are as lenient as Rebbi Tarfon is strict - in that he confines Ner Shabbos to oilve-oil.

6)

(a)The Mishnah presents a long list of oils which the Chachamim permit, beginning with 'Shemen Shumsh'min' - (sesame-seed oil), nut-oil, radish-seed-oil and fish-oil.

(b)The Tana concludes with 'Shemen-Paku'os ...

1. ... (oil made from wild pumpkins), paraffin (which we discussed earlier and ...

2. ... Neft' - (parafin).

(c)The Halachah is like the Chachamim, in which case we rule - that with the exception of the Pasul oils listed in the previous Mishnah, all oil is Kasher ...

(d)... with the exception of Afars'man oil and white paraffin.

7)

(a)Both Shemen Afars'mon and white Neft are disqualified - because they tend to flicker wildly, creating the possibility that they will create a fire.

(b)The additional reason we have to forbid Shemen Afars'mon exclusively is - that, on account of its beautiful aroma, one may come to remove some of it from the burning lamp

(c)The prohibition involved in ...

1. ... removing oil from a burning lamp is - the Melachah of 'Mechabeh' (extinguishing).

2. ... adding oil to a burning lamp is - 'Mav'ir' (kindling a fire).

8)

(a)The Mishnah rules that anything that comes from a tree - may not be used for Ner Shabbos with the sole exception of flax.

(b)Granted, flax does not come from a tree - the Tana considers as if it did, since the Pasuk in Yehoshua refers to it as "Pishtei ha'Eitz").

(c)The Tana permits wicks made of hemp and cotton - since they are a type of seed (and nowhere are they referred to as 'Eitz').

9)

(a)Flax is also an exception in that it is the only 'product of a tree' that is subject to Tum'as Ohalim.

(b)Other wooden roofs not subject to Tum'as Ohel - due to the fact that are Mechubar (attached).

(c)We learn that a flax roof is subject to Tum'as Ohel from the Pasuk in Chukas "Vehizah al ha'Ohel", which we know is talking about a flax roof - from a Gezeirah-Shavah "Ohel" "Ohel" (Vayifros es ha'Ohel al ha'Mishkan"), and the only 'product of a tree' that was used to cover the Mishkan was flax, as the Torah writes "Eser Yeri'os Sheish Moshzar".

10)

(a)Rebbi Eliezer declares a cloth - (of exactly three by three finfre-breadths) that one rolls into a wick subject to Tum'ah.

(b)It will no longer be subject to Tum'ah however - once he singes it prior to kindling it.

(c)Based on the previous ruling, he forbids kindling Ner Shabbos with it on Yom-Tov that falls on Erev Shabbos ...

(d)... because a. One is obligated to apply the match until the flame is going up by itself; b. Once he has lit the first Mashehu, it becomes a broken K'li; and c. One is not permitted to burn with broken Keilim on Yom-Tov, since they are Nolad.

11)

(a)Rebbi Akiva ...

1. ... declares the folded cloth Tahor, and ...

2. ... permits lighting with it Ner Shabbos ...

(b)... because he holds - that folding a piece of cloth into a wick reduces its size (so that in this case, when the wick was lit, it no longer measured three by three finger-breadths, and therefore no longer had the status of a K'li); whereas according to Rebbi Eliezer, it does not

(c)The Halachah - is like Rebbi Akiva.

12)

(a)The Tana Kama forbids making a hole in an egg-shell, filling the egg-shell with oil - and fixing it above an the oil-lamp to drip into it on Shabbos ...

(b)... for fear that one might come to take oil from it ...

(c)... which is Asur because of 'Mechabeh', since he designated it as part of the lamp.

(d)The Tana finds it necessary to add 'va'Afilu hi shel Cheres' - to teach us that it is Asur, even though we may have though there is reason to believe that, due to its ugliness, he is unlikely to take from the oil anyway.

(e)Rebbi Yehudah permit both of the above cases. He is not worried that one may come to take oil out of the egg-shell - since the owner sees the oil dripping into the lamp, he is aware that the egg-shell is part of the system.

13)

(a)The Tana Kama concedes that it is permitted in the event that the manufacturer made it that way to begin with - because then the owner will obviously know that the egg-shell is part of the system and that it is forbidden to take oil from it.

(b)Moreover (for the same reason) it will permitted even if the owner set it up - if he himself attached it with lime of cement before Shabbos.

(c)the Tana Kama and Rebbi Yehudah respectively, say In a case where instead of placing an egg-shell above the dish containing the oil, one places a dish containing oil beside the oil-lamp, with a feeder wick leading to the latter - both the Tana Kama and Rebbi Yehudah issue the same ruling as they did in the first case.

(d)We have already explained why the Mishnah finds it necessary to add the case of an earthenware feeder dish. Having taught us the Din with regard to ...

1. ... an earthenware lamp, the Mishnah nevertheless finds it necessary to add the case of a metal one - to teach us that even there, Rebbi Yehudah argues with the Tana Kama.

2. ... the above two cases, the Mishnah find it necessary to add the case of the dish - to teach us that even there, where the two sections might appear to be unconnected, Rebbi Yehudah does not concede to the Tana Kama that it is Asur.

3. ... the case of the dish, does he find it necessary to add the first two cases - to teach us that even there, the Tana Kama does not concede to the Tana Kama that it is Mutar.

14)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses someone who extinguishes a lamp, which is different than kindling it - inasmuch as, unlike kindling it, it is, in most cases, a Melachah she'Einah Tzerichah le'Gufah (for which one is not a Chayav Chatas) ...

(b)... because when a person extinguishes a lamp, he does so in order to remove the light.

(c)Consequently, the Tana declares Patur somebody who extinguishes it because of Nochrim - such as Persions, who prohibited anyone from having light in their home on their festivals.

(d)By the same token, he declares Patur someone who extinguishes it because of armed robbers or because of a Ru'ach Ra'ah - (an evil spirit, which cases him to be afraid when it is light (but which leaves him when it is dark).

15)

(a)The fourth case for rendering Patur someone who extinguishes a lamp that the Tana lists is - if it is to enable a sick person to go to sleep.

(b)In all of the cases listed, the perpetrator Patur - because they all speak in a case of Piku'ach Nefesh ...

(c)... and the reason that he says 'Patur' and not 'Mutar' is - to balance the Seifa, where he is going to say 'Chayav'.

16)

(a)The Mishnah rules that - if he extinguishes the lamp in order to save ...

1. ... the lamp (from cracking) ...

2. ... the oil that is left in the lamp, or ...

3. ... the remaining wick - he is Chayav.

(b)According to Rebbi Yossi - he is Patur in all cases, with the exception of the latter ...

(c)... and there where he extinguishing it after singing it before kindling it (the only two cases of Kibuy which fall under the category of 'Tzerichah le'Gufah') ...

(d)... because he holds 'Melachah she'Einah Tzerichah le'Gufah' is Patur (see also Tos. Yom-Tov), whereas the Chachamim hold 'Chayav'.

(e)The Halachah is like the Chachamim (which is the opinion of the Rambam. See Tif'eres Yisrael).

17)

(a)the three sins for which a woman dies at childbirth are - the contravention of Nidah, Chalah and Hadlakas ha'Ner.

(b)At childbirth - because that is when her life is anyway in danger.

(c)The Torah places the onus of Chalah and ha'Ner on the woman - because they are household chores (and she is generally at home),

18)

(a)The three things hat ta man should announce to his wife shortly before Shabbos arrives is ''Isartem' and 'Eravtem' - and 'Hadliku es ha'Ner!'

(b)It is obvious that 'shortly before Shabbos' means early enough to perform the Mitzvos that need performing. If also means - not so early that she thinks that there is plenty of time and then forgets.

(c)When announcing them, one should take care - to do so gently, to ensure that his wife takes them to heart.

19)

(a)'Isartem' incorporates even snacks (Achilas Atrai), which are normally permitted even before the food has been Ma'asered - because Shabbos is one of the things that turns Arai into K'va, rendering all food forbidden unless it has been Ma'asered.

(b)'Eravtem' incorporates - Eiruvei Techumin and Eiruvei Chatzeiros.

(c)The Tana changes from "Isartem' and 'Eravtem' to 'Hadliku es ha'Ner!' - because he can see that she has not yet lit. If she has, he will see it and will not need to announce it.

20)

(a)The Tana now discusses ' Safek Chasheichah' - which is equivalent to Sheki'as ha'Chamah (sunset - though Halachically, one has to allow a few minutes for Tosefes Shabbos).

(b)Before the invention of watches this was distinguishable - by looking at the stars, since one star is still day, two medium-size stars, Bein-ha'Shemashos (dusk [beginning with Sheki'as ha'Chamah]), three stars, night.

21)

(a)Besides Hadlakas Neiros, the Tana forbids during Bein-ha'Shemashos - to remove Ma'aser from Demai and immerse Kelim in a Mikvah.

(b)As opposed to Hadlakas Neiros (which is min ha'Torah), they are both mi'de'Rabbanan ('Sh'vus).

(c)We can extrapolate from this ruling - that, according to this Tana they decreed on Sh'vus during Bein-ha'Shemashos').

(d)He nevertheless permits separating Ma'asros from D'mai (food that one has purchased from an Am-ha'Aretz) - inasmuch as the majority of Amei-ha'Aretz tend to Ma'aser their drops, so that D'mai is merely a Chumra.

22)

(a)The Mishnah also permits making an Eiruv - (Eiruvei Chatzeiros) and wrapping hot food ('Tomnin es ha'Chamin') during Safek Chasheichah.

(b)On spite of the fact that this Tana forbids even Sh'vus, he permits it - because, like D'mai, it is merely a Chumra.

23)

(a)When the Tana rules 'Tomnin es ha'Chamin', he does not mean to include things that increase the heat ('Hatmanah be'Davar ha'Mosef Hevel').

(b)The Chachamim forbid Hatmanah be'Davar she'Ein Mosif Hevel on Shabbos - in case one finds that his food has turned cold and one puts it back on the stove to heat up ...

(c)... a fear that applies to Shabbos day-time, but not to Friday night, when the pot has just cooked and is still hot. This explains why the Tana permits Hatmanah be'Davar she'Ein Mosif Hevel during Bein-ha'Shemashos.