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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INITIATION
Siman רס״ד · 10 Seifim
Permitted wicks and oils for the Shabbos lights
סימן רס״ד
דיני הפתילה והשמן
🌱 Beginner Level · Foundations
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The technical siman that completes Siman 263 — which wick (peitilah) and which oil (shemen) are permitted? Central criterion: the flame must hold steady without flickering. שלהבת קופצת (jumping flame) = forbidden. Wicks of flax/cotton/hemp OK; not wool or hair. Oils: olive = mitzvah min ha-muvchar. Modern application: paraffin and beeswax (Seif Zayin), modern candles, LED.
📑 Study plan
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the 10 seifim
2. The general context — the technical siman
3. Key concept 1 — Wicks: שלהבת קופצת vs נאחז
4. Key concept 2 — Oils: שמן הנמשך + 4 risks
5. Key concept 3 — שמן זית: mitzvah min ha-muvchar
6. Detail of the 10 seifim
7. Position of the Rama — modern candles
8. Modern practical cases — paraffin, gel, LED
9. Practical synthesis
10. Comprehension questions
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch
Seif Alef — Wicks: permitted and forbidden materials
דִּינֵי הַפְּתִילָה וְהַשֶּׁמֶן. וּבוֹ י' סְעִיפִים.
אֵין עוֹשִׂין פְּתִילָה לְנֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת, בֵּין נֵר שֶׁעַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן בֵּין כָּל נֵר שֶׁמַּדְלִיק בַּבַּיִת, מִדָּבָר שֶׁהָאוּר אֵינוֹ נֶאֱחָז בּוֹ אֶלָּא נִסְרָךְ סְבִיבָיו וְהַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת קוֹפֶצֶת — כְּגוֹן צֶמֶר וְשֵׂעָר וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶם. אֶלָּא מִדָּבָר שֶׁהָאוּר נִתְלֶה בּוֹ — כְּגוֹן פִּשְׁתָּה נְפוּצָה, וּבֶגֶד שֵׁשׁ, וְצֶמֶר גֶּפֶן, וְקַנְבּוֹס וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהֶן. הגה: וְאִם הִדְלִיק בִּדְבָרִים הָאֲסוּרִים — אָסוּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לְאוֹרוֹ (תשובת הרשב"א סי' קע"ח). וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים דְּאִם יֵשׁ נֵר אֶחָד מֵהַדְּבָרִים הַמֻּתָּרִים — מֻתָּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לְאוֹר הָאֲחֵרִים. וְכֵן דָּבָר שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר בְּלֹא נֵר — מֻתָּר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֲפִלּוּ אֵצֶל נֵרוֹת הָאֲחֵרִים. וּלְצוֹרֶךְ שַׁבָּת יֵשׁ לְהָקֵל בְּדִיעֲבַד (הגהות מרדכי פ"ק ופ"ב דשבת).
"The laws of the wick and the oil" — 10 se'ifim. One does not make a wick for the Shabbos candle — whether the candle on the table or any candle lit in the house — from materials where the fire does not catch hold but rather "jumps" around them (the flame flickers) — wool, hair, and the like.
Permitted wicks: materials where the fire holds steady — flax (pishtah), fine linen (sheish), cotton (tzemer gefen), hemp (kanbus).
Hagahah of the Rema: if one kindled with forbidden materials — it is forbidden to make use of its light [Teshuvas haRashba siman 178]. And some say that if there is one candle of the permitted materials, one may use the light of the others; likewise, whatever can be done without a candle may be done even near the other candles; and for a Shabbos need one may be lenient bedi'avad [Hagahos Mordechai].
Permitted wicks: materials where the fire holds steady — flax (pishtah), fine linen (sheish), cotton (tzemer gefen), hemp (kanbus).
Hagahah of the Rema: if one kindled with forbidden materials — it is forbidden to make use of its light [Teshuvas haRashba siman 178]. And some say that if there is one candle of the permitted materials, one may use the light of the others; likewise, whatever can be done without a candle may be done even near the other candles; and for a Shabbos need one may be lenient bedi'avad [Hagahos Mordechai].
Sole criterion: שלהבת קופצת (flame that jumps/flickers) = forbidden. האור נאחז / נתלה (fire that catches) = permitted. It is an observable physical criterion.
Seif Beis — Wrapping permitted/forbidden
כָּרַךְ דָּבָר שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין בּוֹ עַל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מַדְלִיקִין בּוֹ — אִם נִתְכַּוֵּן לְהַעֲבוֹת (פֵּרוּשׁ: לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ עָבָה) הַפְּתִילָה כְּדֵי לְהוֹסִיף אוֹרָהּ — אָסוּר. וְאִם נִתְכַּוֵּן לְהַקְשׁוֹת הַפְּתִילָה כְּדֵי שֶׁתְּהֵא עוֹמֶדֶת וְלֹא תְשַׁלְשֵׁל לְמַטָּה — מֻתָּר. וּמִטַּעַם זֶה מֻתָּר לִכְרוֹךְ דָּבָר שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין בּוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי גֶּמִי אוֹ קַשׁ, כְּדֵי לִיתֵּן הַפְּתִילָה בַּעֲשָׁשִׁית. הגה: נוֹתְנִין גַּרְגִּיר שֶׁל מֶלַח וּגְרִיס שֶׁל פּוֹל עַל פִּי הַנֵּר בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת — כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא דּוֹלֵק יָפֶה בְּשַׁבָּת (מיימוני פ"ה וטור).
If one wraps a permitted material around a forbidden one:
Hagahah of the Rema: putting a grain of salt or a bean atop the candle on erev Shabbos so that it burns well on Shabbos [Maimoni ch. 5 and Tur].
- To thicken the wick (= more light) — forbidden
- To stiffen the wick (= so it stands and does not droop down) — permitted
Hagahah of the Rema: putting a grain of salt or a bean atop the candle on erev Shabbos so that it burns well on Shabbos [Maimoni ch. 5 and Tur].
Seif Gimel — Forbidden oils + שמן הנמשך
אֵין מַדְלִיקִין נֵר לְשַׁבָּת אֶלָּא מִשֶּׁמֶן הַנִּמְשָׁךְ אַחַר הַפְּתִילָה. וּלְפִיכָךְ אֵין מַדְלִיקִין בְּזֶפֶת, וְלֹא בְּשַׁעֲוָה, וְלֹא בְּשֶׁמֶן הָעָשׂוּי מִצֶּמֶר גֶּפֶן, וְלֹא בְּאַלְיָה, וְלֹא בְּחֵלֶב. וְכֵן אֵין מַדְלִיקִין בְּעִטְרָן — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁרֵיחוֹ רַע וְיַנִּיחֶנּוּ וְיֵצֵא. וְלֹא בִּצְרִי — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁרֵיחוֹ נוֹדֵף, שֶׁמָּא יִסְתַּפֵּק מִמֶּנּוּ וְנִמְצָא מִתְחַיֵּב מִשּׁוּם מְכַבֶּה.
Central criterion: שמן הנמשך אחר הפתילה = oil that lets itself be "drawn" by the wick (capillarity). Otherwise the flame extinguishes quickly or flickers.
Forbidden oils:
Forbidden oils:
- Pitch (zefes), wax (sha'avah), cottonseed oil, fat-tail (alyah), tallow (cheilev) — not drawn by the wick
- Tar/petroleum (itran) — bad smell, one steps away (forbidden because of oneg)
- Balsam (tzori) — sweet smell, one takes from it (= mechabeh, extinguishing by depleting)
4 codified risks (the siman enumerates):
- שלהבת קופצת — flame that flickers (forbidden wicks, Seif Alef)
- אינו נמשך — oil not drawn (wax, pitch, etc.)
- ריח רע — bad smell (itran) — one leaves the room
- ריח נודף — sweet smell (tzori) — one takes from it (= indirect mechabeh)
Seifim Daled–Hei — Mixtures
סעיף ד : אֲפִלּוּ נָתַן מְעַט שֶׁמֶן זַיִת בִּשְׁמָנִים אֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵינָם נִמְשָׁכִים — וְאָז נִמְשָׁכִים — אֵין מַדְלִיקִין בָּהֶם.
סעיף ה : חֵלֶב מְהֻתָּךְ וְקִרְבֵי דָגִים — אֵין מַדְלִיקִין בָּהֶם. וְאִם נָתַן בָּהֶם מְעַט מֵאַחַת מֵהַשְּׁמָנִים שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין בָּהֶם — מֻתָּר לְהַדְלִיק בָּהֶם.
| Case | Conduct |
|---|---|
| Mixing olive oil (a little) into a forbidden oil | Forbidden even if the mixture becomes "drawable" |
| Mixing a little permitted oil into melted tallow (cheilev mehutach) or fish innards | Permitted — different category of issur |
Seif Vav — All other oils + olive oil as ideal
שְׁאָר כָּל הַשְּׁמָנִים — חוּץ מֵאֵלּוּ — מַדְלִיקִין בָּהֶם. וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁמֶן זַיִת מִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר.
All other types of oil (sesame, sunflower, canola, etc.) — permitted. But olive oil is mitzvah min ha-muvchar (= the ideal).
Why olive oil?
- Clearest and most steady light (perfect capillarity)
- Historical link to the Beis Hamikdash (Menorah)
- Symbolic of the Jewish people (cf. Yirmiyahu 11:16 — Yisrael = olive tree)
Seifim 7–10 — Particular cases
[ז] כָּרַךְ זֶפֶת אוֹ שַׁעֲוָה אוֹ חֵלֶב סְבִיב הַפְּתִילָה — מַדְלִיקִים בָּהֶם.
[ח] הַמַּדְלִיק צָרִיךְ שֶׁיַּדְלִיק רוֹב מַה שֶּׁיּוֹצֵא מִן הַפְּתִילָה מֵהַנֵּר.
[ט] אֵין צָרִיךְ לְהַבְהֵב הַפְּתִילָה (פֵּרוּשׁ: עִנְיַן הַבְהוּב יִפּוֹל עַל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִשְׂרָף לְגַמְרֵי וְגַם לֹא קַיָּם לְגַמְרֵי; "אַל תֹּאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ נָא" — תַּרְגּוּם יוֹנָתָן: מְהַבְהַב). הגה: וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם נָהֲגוּ לְהַדְלִיק הַפְּתִילָה וּלְכַבּוֹתָהּ כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מְחוֹרֶכֶת וְתֹאחַז בָּהּ הָאוּר יָפֶה (טור).
[י] אֵין מַדְלִיקִין בִּסְמַרְטוּטִין אֲפִלּוּ מְחוֹרָכִין.
Se'if 7: if one wrapped pitch, wax, or tallow around a [permitted] wick — one may light with them.
Se'if 8: the one who kindles must light the majority of what protrudes of the wick from the candle.
Se'if 9: there is no need to singe (להבהב) the wick beforehand. Hagahah of the Rema: nevertheless, the minhag is to light the wick and then extinguish it, so that it be charred and the flame catch onto it well [Tur].
Se'if 10: one does not light with rags (סמרטוטין), even charred ones.
Se'if 8: the one who kindles must light the majority of what protrudes of the wick from the candle.
Se'if 9: there is no need to singe (להבהב) the wick beforehand. Hagahah of the Rema: nevertheless, the minhag is to light the wick and then extinguish it, so that it be charred and the flame catch onto it well [Tur].
Se'if 10: one does not light with rags (סמרטוטין), even charred ones.
| Seif | Topic | Conduct |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Wrapping pitch/wax/tallow around a permitted wick | Permitted (the wick stays permitted) |
| 8 | Kindling | Must catch on the majority of what protrudes from the wick |
| 9 | "Hav'havah" (preliminary charring) | Not obligatory, but minhag: light then extinguish to "prepare" |
| 10 | Worn rags (smartutin) | Forbidden even charred |
2. The general context
What does this siman discuss?
Siman רס״ד is technical: it completes siman 263 (the mitzvah of kindling) by codifying with what one kindles. Two questions:
| Question | Criterion |
|---|---|
| Wick (peitilah) | The fire must catch hold (ne'echaz), not flicker |
| Oil (shemen) | Must be "drawn" by the wick (nimshach) |
The foundational Talmudic sugya — Shabbos 20b–24a: "במה מדליקין ובמה אין מדליקין" (with what we kindle, with what we do not). The Gemara lists the materials and establishes the double criterion: a wick that holds + a drawable oil. Mishnah Shabbos 2:1–2 enumerates the issurim.
3. Key concept 1 — Wicks: שלהבת קופצת vs נאחז
שַׁלְהֶבֶת קוֹפֶצֶת = "flame that jumps" — the flame does not stay attached to the wick; it flickers around it. Cause: the wick is made of a material that does not allow steady combustion (wool, hair, etc.).
הָאוּר נֶאֱחָז / נִתְלֶה = "the fire catches / hangs" — the flame stays bonded with the wick. Cause: capillary fibrous material (flax, cotton, hemp).
הָאוּר נֶאֱחָז / נִתְלֶה = "the fire catches / hangs" — the flame stays bonded with the wick. Cause: capillary fibrous material (flax, cotton, hemp).
| Permitted | Forbidden |
|---|---|
| פִּשְׁתָּה נְפוּצָה (carded flax) | צֶמֶר (wool) |
| בֶּגֶד שֵׁשׁ (fine linen cloth) | שֵׂעָר (hair) |
| צֶמֶר גֶּפֶן (cotton) | סמרטוטין (worn rags, Seif Yud) |
| קַנְבּוֹס (hemp) | — |
4. Key concept 2 — Oils: שמן הנמשך + 4 risks
שֶׁמֶן הַנִּמְשָׁךְ אַחַר הַפְּתִילָה = "oil that lets itself be drawn by the wick". This is the sole criterion determining whether an oil is permitted. Perfect capillarity = the flame stays steady.
| Risk | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. שלהבת קופצת | Jumping flame (wick) | Wool, hair |
| 2. אינו נמשך | Oil not drawn | Wax, pitch, tallow, fat-tail, cottonseed oil |
| 3. ריח רע | Bad smell — one steps away | עטרן (crude petroleum) |
| 4. ריח נודף | Sweet smell — one takes from it (= indirectly extinguishes) | צרי (fragrant balsam) |
5. Key concept 3 — שמן זית: mitzvah min ha-muvchar
מִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר = "mitzvah at its ideal". All permitted oils fulfill the mitzvah, but olive oil is the halachic ideal. Three reasons:
- Physical: perfect capillarity, the clearest and steadiest flame
- Historical: link to the Mikdash Menorah
- Symbolic: Yisrael compared to an olive tree (Yirmiyahu 11:16)
6. Detail of the 10 seifim
| Seif | Topic | Conduct |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Permitted/forbidden wicks | Flax/cotton/hemp OK; wool/hair forbidden. Bediavad: another kosher light for benefit |
| 2 | Wrapping permitted around forbidden | To stiffen OK; to thicken forbidden. Salt/bean on the wick to burn better (Rama) |
| 3 | Oil: nimshach + 4 risks | Olive/sesame/etc. OK; pitch/wax/tallow/fat-tail forbidden; petroleum and balsam too (smell reasons) |
| 4 | Minor mixture of olive in forbidden | Forbidden even if drawable |
| 5 | Tallow/fish innards + permitted oil | Permitted (different category) |
| 6 | All other oils permitted | Olive = mitzvah min ha-muvchar |
| 7 | Wax/pitch/tallow wrapped around a permitted wick | Permitted |
| 8 | Kindling | The majority of the wick must catch |
| 9 | Hav'havah (charring) | Not obligatory; minhag to light-extinguish to prepare |
| 10 | Worn rags | Forbidden |
7. Position of the Rama
| Topic | Rama's position |
|---|---|
| Forbidden wick (Seif Alef) | + Bediavad: with another kosher light, may benefit |
| Salt/bean atop the candle (Seif Beis) | + Trick to burn better |
| Hav'havah (Seif Tes) | + Minhag to light then extinguish the new wick before Shabbos |
8. Modern practical cases
Case 1 — Paraffin candles (modern)
Case: standard white supermarket candles.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Cotton wick (== Seif Alef permitted)
- Wax/paraffin wrapped around the wick = Seif Zayin (כרך זפת או שעוה סביב הפתילה — מדליקים)
- Permitted without hesitation
- Not ideal (Seif Vav: olive = mitzvah min ha-muvchar)
Case 2 — Olive oil candles
Case: small "Maor" / "Ner Mitzvah" cups with a floating wick in olive oil.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Cotton or flax wick → permitted
- Olive oil → mitzvah min ha-muvchar
- Increasingly widespread practice in observant communities
Case 3 — LED candles
Case: hotel forbids open flame; one has LED candles.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Machlokes haposkim (cf. Siman 263 Level 2)
- Majority: does not fulfill the mitzvah (need eish / real flame)
- Bediavad / urgent need: may help (without a brachah according to some)
- Prefer to seek an option with flame
Case 4 — Scented candles (incense, etc.)
Case: decorative candles emitting a sweet smell.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Risk of Seif Gimel — sweet smell may lead to using for something else (= mechabeh)
- Dedicated Shabbos candles — preferable to multi-use scented candles
- If only those are available — bediavad permitted (unlikely there will be incidental benefit)
Case 5 — Hav'havah (preparing a new wick)
Case: new candle whose wick has never been lit.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Friday before Shabbos: light the wick briefly, extinguish it — hav'havah
- Effect: the wick is charred and relights better on Shabbos
- Not obligatory but a minhag (Rama Seif Tes)
- Chabad practice: do not neglect
9. Practical synthesis of the siman
The 4 teachings of Siman רס״ד:
- Wick: material that ignites well (flax, cotton, hemp) — not שלהבת קופצת
- Oil: שמן הנמשך + avoid 4 risks (not drawn, bad smell, sweet smell)
- Olive = ideal (mitzvah min ha-muvchar)
- Modern paraffin = permitted per Seif Zayin (wax wrapped around a permitted wick)
Practical decision table
| Type of candle | Conduct |
|---|---|
| Standard paraffin candles (cotton wick) | Permitted |
| Olive oil candles with floating wick | Mitzvah min ha-muvchar — ideal |
| Beeswax candles (cotton wick) | Permitted |
| LED candles | Machlokes — prefer flame if possible |
| Scented candles | To avoid (risk of mechabeh) |
| Unprepared new wick | Hav'havah recommended (Rama) |
| Candles with wool wick | Forbidden (שלהבת קופצת) |
| Olive oil mixed with a little wax/pitch | Forbidden (Seif Daled) |
The 5 practical commandments of Siman רס״ד
- Permitted wick — cotton, flax, or hemp. No wool, hair, worn rags
- Permitted oil — all "drawable" oils; avoid direct soft wax, tallow, petroleum, balsam
- Olive oil ideal — mitzvah min ha-muvchar (Mikdash link, perfect capillarity)
- Modern paraffin candles = permitted (Seif Zayin) — wax around cotton wick
- Hav'havah — prepare the new wick before Shabbos (light, extinguish)
10. Comprehension questions
Check your understanding:
- What is the central criterion for wicks?
- Why are wool and hair forbidden as wicks?
- What does שמן הנמשך mean?
- What are the 4 reasons oils are forbidden?
- Why is olive oil "mitzvah min ha-muvchar"?
- How is the use of modern paraffin candles justified?
- What does "hav'havah" mean and why do it?
- If one mixes a little olive oil into melted wax, is it permitted?
- Why should one avoid scented candles?
- How does Siman 264 connect with Siman 263 (the mitzvah)?
To deepen this siman:
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