Shabbos 29
“Where he extinguishes the flame in order to spare the lamp, spare the oil, or spare the wick, he is liable.”
The last few readings have been really challenging. Today’s mishmash of themes includes a sort of tribute to the date, methods for lighting a wick (half-burnt, or with rags), impure garments, broken vessels (how does one kindle a fire with any type of vessel, especially a broken one?), and the intention behind dragging benches. (There were a lot of benches being dragged around the Yeshivas back then.)
We learn that throwing half-eaten date pits to animals is allowable during a festival (aren’t we supposed to feed our animals first?)
We return to an exegesis on intention. We learn that “One may drag a bed, a chair, and a bench across the floor on Shabbat even though it creates a furrow, as long as he does not intend to create a furrow.” There is disagreement among the Rabbis on what type of dragging is allowed on the Sabbath. It comes down to whether there is intention to create a furrow in the ground, which is more avoidable with a small piece of furniture than a large one.
The discussion on intention continues with the extinguishing of the Shabbat lamp. We have come a long way in the discussion (days and days of discussion) on the proper way to light the Sabbath lamp. Today we discuss what is permissible in dousing light on the Sabbath. We learn that if one is afraid and hiding in his home due to thieves or evil spirits or depression or illness, it is permissible to snuff out the light on the Sabbath, for the intention is pure. But it is not permissible to snuff out the light in order to spare the lamp, stretch the supply of oil and save some money. The latter case of “sparing the wick” is illustrated as a creative act that is prohibited on the Sabbath. Intention matters.
It is not difficult (as the Talmud often says) to find a comparison with the evil spirits that are mentioned in today’s reading with those that are keeping us from living our lives, and at home, sheltering in place. It may not be a good idea to extinguish the light and sit at home in the dark. We need to find light wherever and whenever we can during these difficult days.