BINAH: YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p83

CHAPTER IV.
REGULATIONS CONCERNING VICTUALS, WHERE THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE
DEPOSITED TO RETAIN THEIR HEAT FOR THE SABBATH.
MISHNA I.: Wherein may hot vessels be deposited (to retain the heat) and wherein may they
not? Depositing in Gepheth (olive waste), dung, salt, lime, and sand, either wet or dry, is not
allowed. In straw, grape-skins, wool-flocks, or grass it is permitted, provided they are dry, but
not when they are still wet.
GEMARA: A question was propounded: “Is the use of olive waste only prohibited, but the use
of the oil-cakes allowed; or does the Mishna allude to oil-cakes and still more so to olive waste
(for it produces more heat)?” For the purpose of depositing in, both kinds are not allowed; (but if
the victuals have been deposited in a permissible thing and were subsequently placed on oilcakes
no wrong was done, because) oil-cake does not produce heat; olive waste produces heat.
Rabba and R. Zera once met at the Exilarch’s house; they saw there a servant putting a can (with
warm water) on top of a kettle (containing cold water), and Rabba rebuked him. Said R. Zera to
him: “In what particular does this case differ from that of putting one pan on top of another?”
Answered Rabba: “Here heat is produced, but there it is only preserved.” Another time they saw
(the servant) spreading a turban over a pitcher and putting a cup on top of it. Again Rabba
rebuked him. R. Zera asked for the reason, and Rabba answered: “You will soon see him
wringing 1 the turban,” which he did. R. Zera again asked: “In what particular does this case
differ from that of a spread cloth?” Answered Rabba: “Here he is particular (lest it become wet
and he will wring it), while there he is not.”
“In straw.” R. Adda b. Masna questioned Abayi: “May wool-flocks, in which (victuals) were
deposited, be handled on Sabbath?” Abayi answered: “Because of a lack of straw,