Shabbos 2:3-4
Shabbos 2:3
The only tree product that may be used as a wick is flax. Furthermore, the only tree product that is susceptible to ritual uncleanliness because of a corpse under a canopy is flax. If a piece of a garment was folded into a wick but not singed in the fire to temper it, Rabbi Eliezer says that it is still a garment, and therefore susceptible to ritual uncleanliness and one may not light with it. Rabbi Akiva says that it is no longer a garment, and therefore not susceptible to ritual uncleanliness and one may light with it.
Shabbos 2:4
One may not poke a hole in an eggshell, fill it with oil, and position it to drip into an oil lamp on Shabbos – one may not even do this with earthenware, though Rabbi Yehuda permits it. If the potter connected such a receptacle at the outset, it is permitted because it's all one vessel. One may not fill a dish with oil and place it next to the lamp so that the wick can draw from it but Rabbi Yehuda permits it.
Grateful Thanks for the Mishna Yomit Dedication of
Rabbi Louis Leifer and Mrs. Miriam D. Leifer z"l
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