NETZACH: YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p80

R. Avia once came to the house of Rabha with muddy shoes and sat on the bed in the presence
of the latter. This made
[paragraph continues] Rabha angry, and he tried to disconcert R. Avia with questions. Said he
(Rabha): “Can you tell me why Rabba and R. Joseph both said that a lamp filled with naphtha
may be handled?” Answered R. Avia: “The reason of their decision is because the lamp is fit to
cover a vessel with after being extinguished.” And he rejoined: “If this is so, one may also
handle shavings scattered in the yard, because they also can be used to cover a vessel with.”
Answered R. Avia: “A lamp, being a vessel itself, can be used to cover other things with, but
shavings are not vessels in themselves and therefore cannot be used singly as covers” (and
brought a Boraitha which states that nose jewels, rings, etc., are considered among the vessels
which may be handled on Sabbath, and Ulla explained the reason why, because they are
considered as vessels). Said R. Na’hman b. Itz’hak: “Praised be the Lord that Rabha did not put
R. Avia to shame.”
Abayi pointed out to R. Joseph the following contradiction: “Did R. Simeon say that a light may
be handled only when extinguished, but if burning it must not be handled? For what reason?
Because there is a chance of extinguishing it while it is being handled?” Have we not learned
that R. Simeon said: “An act which is committed unintentionally is permissible.” Such is the
decision of R. Simeon? (This presents no difficulty.) One must not take chances with an act
which, if done intentionally, would cause a violation of a biblical ordinance; but if the violation
would be only that of a rabbinical ordinance, chances may be taken.
Objected Rabha: “We have learned: Dealers in clothing may sell clothes made of wool and
cotton mixed. They are permitted to try on such clothes or to carry them (temporarily) on their
shoulders, provided the intention to use them as a protection against the sun and rain does not
exist. Now, the wearing of a mixture of wool and cotton is biblically prohibited, still R. Simeon
permits it to be done temporarily. Therefore said Rabha: “Discard the case of the lamp, oil, and
wick; there is another reason entirely–viz., because one becomes a basis of a thing the handling
of which is in itself prohibited (i.e., the light in itself cannot be handled).”
Said R. Zera in the name of R. Assi, quoting R. Johanan, who said in the name of R. Hanina that
he was told by R. Romnas: “Rabbi permitted me to handle a pan containing glowing ashes.”