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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman ר"ע · 2 Se'ifim
Reciting the perek Bameh Madlikin (Mishnah Shabbos ch. 2) — to discover and understand
סימן ר"ע
לוֹמַר מִשְׁנַת בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין
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First approach to Siman ר"ע: full Hebrew text of the Mechaber, fluent English translation, pedagogical explanations of the halachic concepts, modern practical cases, and synthesis.
Topic: Reciting Bameh Madlikin (Mishnah Shabbos ch. 2)
Source: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן ר"ע (2 se'ifim)
Compilation: Rav Yossef Chaim Samama
DAAT · daattorah.com
📑 Study Plan
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the 2 se'ifim of the Mechaber
2. General context: why this siman, what is the question?
3. Key halachic concepts of this siman
4. The se'ifim in detail — one by one
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
6. The Rama's position — Ashkenaz vs. Sefardi differences
7. Modern practical cases
8. Practical synthesis and rules to remember
9. Comprehension questions
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch
Siman ר"ע contains 2 se'ifim of the Mechaber (Rabbi Yosef Karo) that codify the rules concerning reciting the perek Bameh Madlikin (Mishnah Shabbos ch. 2).
Se'if 1 — When to recite Bameh Madlikin
לוֹמַר מִשְׁנַת בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין. ובו ב סעיפים:
נוֹהֲגִים לוֹמַר פֶּרֶק "בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין". וְהַסְּפָרַדִּים אוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ קוֹדֶם תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית — וְהוּא הַנָּכוֹן.
Translation: It is the minhag to recite, on Friday night after Mincha or before/after Maariv, the perek בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין — chapter 2 of Mishnayos Shabbos. This perek deals with the wicks and oils permitted for the Shabbos licht, the mitzvah of hadlakah, and the three reminders the ba'al ha'bayis must make before Shabbos (עִשַּׂרְתֶּם, עֵרַבְתֶּם, הַדְלִיקוּ אֶת הַנֵּר).
Sefardim's position: they say it before the tefillah of Arvis (= before Maariv) — "וְהוּא הַנָּכוֹן" ("this is what is correct"), the Mechaber tells us. The logic: it is a practical reminder before Shabbos officially begins.
Sefardim's position: they say it before the tefillah of Arvis (= before Maariv) — "וְהוּא הַנָּכוֹן" ("this is what is correct"), the Mechaber tells us. The logic: it is a practical reminder before Shabbos officially begins.
Se'if 2 — Calendrical exceptions
יֵשׁ שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ בְּיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת. וְיֵשׁ שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה. הגה (רמ"א): וְאֵין נוֹהֲגִין כֵּן בַּחֲנֻכָּה — וּבְשַׁבָּת שֶׁל חוֹל הַמּוֹעֵד אֵין אוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ (מנהגים), וְכֵן בְּיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת — אֵין אוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ (מהרי"ל הלכות סוכה).
Translation: two cases of exception cited by the Mechaber: (1) some do not say it when Yom Tov falls on erev Shabbos (Yom Tov = the eve of Shabbos); (2) some do not say it on Shabbos Chanukah.
Hagahah (Rama): we do not follow this exception for Chanukah — meaning we do say it on Shabbos Chanukah. However, we do not say it:
• On Shabbos Chol HaMo'ed (Pesach, Sukkos) (source: Minhagim)
• Yom Tov falling on Shabbos (source: Maharil, Hilchos Sukkah)
Hagahah (Rama): we do not follow this exception for Chanukah — meaning we do say it on Shabbos Chanukah. However, we do not say it:
• On Shabbos Chol HaMo'ed (Pesach, Sukkos) (source: Minhagim)
• Yom Tov falling on Shabbos (source: Maharil, Hilchos Sukkah)
Overview: the siman codifies the time and the exceptions of a public recital of a specific Mishnah (Shabbos 2:1-7). This is a minor but ancient minhag, with multiple values: (a) reminder of hilchos hadlakah, (b) study of Mishnah, (c) source of concluding berachos ("אֵלּוּ דְבָרִים..." at the end).
2. General context
What is "Bameh Madlikin"?
בַּמֶּה מַדְלִיקִין = "with what does one light". It is the title — the first words — of chapter 2 of Mishnayos Shabbos, which contains 7 mishnayos dealing with the rules of lighting Shabbos licht. It covers:
- Permitted and forbidden wicks (animal hair vs. linen, etc.)
- Permitted and forbidden oils (olive oil is the choicest)
- The mitzvah of hadlakah (who? when? where?)
- The 3 reminders of the ba'al ha'bayis at the twilight of Friday:
- "Have you separated ma'aser?" (מַעֲשֵׂר)
- "Have you made the eruv?" (עֵרוּב)
- "Light the ner!" (הדליקו את הנר)
- The 3 mitzvos for which a woman is more vulnerable on Shabbos (3 mitzvos of women)
The minhag to recite this perek publicly on Friday night dates back to the Geonim and is vigorously attested in the Middle Ages, both in Ashkenaz and Sefarad. The Mechaber describes the minhag as already established.
The fundamental question: at what time should Bameh Madlikin be said (before or after Maariv)? And why are certain days excepted (Yom Tov on erev Shabbos, Shabbos Chanukah, Chol HaMo'ed)?
Place within Hilchos Shabbos
Siman ר"ע follows siman 269 (Kiddush in the shul) and precedes 271 (the evening Kiddush at the seudah). It is a very short siman but it codifies a particular minhag: the recital of a Mishnah at a specific liturgical moment, with its exceptions.
3. Key halachic concepts
Concept 1 — קְרִיאַת מִשְׁנָה בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא (Public recital of Mishnah): the liturgical phenomenon of including non-biblical sources (Mishnah, Aggadah) within public tefillah. Bameh Madlikin is one of the most ancient cases. The reasoning: learning the hilchos of the day (hadlakah) at the moment they apply.
Concept 2 — The optimal time: "קוֹדֶם תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית — וְהוּא הַנָּכוֹן" of the Mechaber. Why before Maariv? Because the perek serves as an introduction to the onset of Shabbos — it is a pre-Shabbos reminder, not a post-acceptance comment.
Concept 3 — Calendrical exceptions: the days on which Bameh Madlikin is not said share a trait — the hadlakah has already been done (Chanukah: the Chanukah licht have already been lit before the Shabbos licht), has no chiddush (Yom Tov-Shabbos: one already lights for Yom Tov), or is deferred/unnecessary (Chol HaMo'ed: no additional special hadlakah).
4. Detail of the 2 se'ifim
| Se'if | Topic | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The minhag of reciting Bameh Madlikin | Universal minhag. Mechaber: "Sefardim say it before Maariv — this is what is correct". |
| 2a | Yom Tov on erev Shabbos | Some do not say (reminder unnecessary, already lit for Yom Tov) |
| 2b | Shabbos Chanukah | Some do not say; Rama: one says (Chanukah hadlakah differs from Shabbos) |
| 2c (Rama) | Shabbos Chol HaMo'ed | Do not say (source: Minhagim) — the seudah and atmosphere are already "festive" |
| 2d (Rama) | Yom Tov falling on Shabbos | Do not say (source: Maharil) |
Practical synthesis of the exceptions: one does not say Bameh Madlikin whenever:
• The hadlakah has already taken place in a "special" manner (Chanukah — except per the Rama)
• A special hadlakah is already in place (Yom Tov on erev Shabbos; Yom Tov-Shabbos)
• The pedagogical reminder is superfluous (Chol HaMo'ed)
Common logic: the perek is a reminder of the rules which is only relevant when the hadlakah is "ordinary".
• The hadlakah has already taken place in a "special" manner (Chanukah — except per the Rama)
• A special hadlakah is already in place (Yom Tov on erev Shabbos; Yom Tov-Shabbos)
• The pedagogical reminder is superfluous (Chol HaMo'ed)
Common logic: the perek is a reminder of the rules which is only relevant when the hadlakah is "ordinary".
5. The Mishnah Berurah
The Mishnah Berurah has 8 entries on this siman.
משנה ברורה (א) — נוהגים לומר: הטעם המקורי — אורחים שהיו לנים בבית הכנסת קודם שבת. אומרים להם הלכות שבת קלות שדוקא יידעו את הקרובים להם (מהן הפתילות הכשרות, מהן השמנים, אזהרות לאיש בעל הבית — לשון "עשרתם, עירבתם, הדליקו את הנר").
Explanation: the MB makes explicit the original reason for the perek — guests who lodged in the shul needed to learn the practical rules of hadlakah (which they would have missed at home). Therefore this perek of Mishnah was recited publicly to them.
משנה ברורה (ב) — קודם תפילת ערבית: הספרדים אומרים אותו לפני "ברכו". וזהו הנכון — שיהיה בעוד יום, לפני קבלת השבת.
Explanation: Sefardim recite it before "Borchu" — that is, before the formal liturgical entry into Shabbos. This is consistent: the perek is a warning before Shabbos. Ashkenazim often say it after Maariv.
For all 8 entries: Mishnah Berurah 270.
6. The Rama's position — 4 points
The Rama adds only one הגהה on this siman, but it contains 4 important points:
- Chanukah — one says Bameh Madlikin. Against the opinion cited by the Mechaber, the Rama follows Ashkenaz custom: the Mishnah is said even on Shabbos Chanukah (the Chanukah hadlakah is distinct from that of Shabbos).
- Chol HaMo'ed (Pesach/Sukkos) — one does not say. Source: sefer Minhagim. Why? The festive atmosphere of the mo'ed extends into Shabbos — no need for a reminder of the specific Shabbos rules.
- Yom Tov falling on Shabbos — one does not say. Source: Maharil (Hilchos Sukkah). The hadlakah of Yom Tov-Shabbos is already special.
- Yom Tov on erev Shabbos — one does not say. (Per the Mechaber himself.)
Table of cases per the Rama:
- ✓ Ordinary Shabbos — says
- ✓ Shabbos Chanukah — says (against the Mechaber)
- ✗ Shabbos Chol HaMo'ed — not said
- ✗ Yom Tov-Shabbos — not said
- ✗ Yom Tov on erev Shabbos — not said
7. Modern practical cases
| Situation | Conduct |
|---|---|
| Ordinary Shabbos in shul | Bameh Madlikin recited (before Maariv by Sefardim, after by Ashkenazim). |
| Shabbos Chanukah | Sefardim per the cited position: do not say. Ashkenazim (Rama): say. |
| Shabbos Chol HaMo'ed Pesach | Do not say (Rama, source Minhagim). |
| Yom Tov (e.g., Sukkos) falling on Friday | Do not say (Mechaber + Rama). |
| First night of Pesach falling on Shabbos | Do not say (Rama, Maharil). |
| One who davens at home without a minyan | The minhag is to say it privately before or after Maariv. No strict obligation. |
| Shul does not say Bameh Madlikin due to lack of time | No prohibition. It is a minhag, not a chiyuv. But learning it oneself remains valuable. |
8. Practical synthesis of the siman
The 4 rules to remember from Siman ר"ע:
- Bameh Madlikin = chapter 2 of Mishnah Shabbos — rules of lighting Shabbos licht.
- Said on Friday night. Sefardim: before Maariv ("this is what is correct"). Ashkenazim: after Maariv (common practice).
- Exceptions per the Rama: Shabbos Chol HaMo'ed + Yom Tov-Shabbos + Yom Tov on erev Shabbos — not said.
- Shabbos Chanukah: the Mechaber reports "do not say"; the Rama: one says. One follows his own minhag.
Siman ר"ע is part of simanim 242-365 covering Hilchos Shabbos. It has its own conceptual area but it is connected to the neighboring simanim.
9. Comprehension questions
Check your understanding:
- What does the perek Bameh Madlikin (chapter 2 of Mishnah Shabbos) contain?
- At precisely what liturgical moment is it recited? What is the Sefardi/Ashkenaz difference?
- Why is it "the correct moment" to recite it before Maariv per the Mechaber?
- What are the 4 days when one does not recite Bameh Madlikin per the Rama?
- What is the divergence between the Mechaber and the Rama regarding Shabbos Chanukah?
- What are the 3 reminders of the ba'al ha'bayis mentioned in the perek?
- Why was the public recital of this Mishnah instituted?
Going further
If you wish to deepen this siman:
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