The Jew and a non-Jew.

M.  The school of Shammai forbids a Jew to sell anything to a non-Jew on the Sabbath eve, or to help him with a load unless the Jew can reach some neighbouring village before the Sabbath fully sets in.  The School of Hillel, however, allows it.

Miscellaneous prohibitions.

M.  A tailor must not go out on the Sabbath eve with his needle, lest he forget it and carry it during the Sabbath.  Nor must the professional writer (scribe) go out with his writing reed on the Sabbath eve.  According to the School of Shammai it is unlawful on the Sabbath eve to deliver skins to a heathen tanner, or clothes to be washed to a non-Jewish laundress, unless there be time enough for them to be got quite ready before the Sabbath begins.  But the School of Hillel allowed perfect freedom in the matter.  Rabbi Simeon ben Gemaliel says, “it was the custom in my parental home to hand over to the non-Jewish laundress things to be washed, three days before the Sabbath.”  It is forbidden to fry meat, onions, or eggs, on the Sabbath eve, unless they can be completely cooked before the Sabbath begins.  Bread must not be put into the oven, nor cakes on the coal, unless there is time before the Sabbath comes in for the surface to become encrusted.

Concerning the Sabbath lamp.[34].

M.  Wherewith may one light the Sabbath lamp?  Not with wicks made with cedar moss, or raw flax, or silk fibre, or weeds growing in water, or ship moss.  Nor shall pitch, wax, cottonseed oil, or oil of rejected offerings, or oil from sheeptail fat, be used for these lamps.

G.  The Rabbis allowed the aforementioned ingredients to be used for the Sabbath fires, though not for the Sabbath lamps.  Why are wicks made of the above materials prohibited?  Because they give but a flickering light.  The oily substances mentioned are forbidden because they do not adhere to the wick.

About extinguishing the Sabbath lamp.

M.  He who extinguishes the Sabbath lamp for fear of non-Jews or robbers or of evil spirits, or in order that the sick may sleep, is free from guilt.  But if the object is merely to save expense the lamp extinguisher stands condemned.

Three things to say on the Sabbath eve.

M.  I. Have ye tithed the food to be eaten on the

Sabbath? 2.  Have ye made the erub? 3.  Light ye the Sabbath lamp.

Man’s two Sabbath angels.

G.  As he returns home from the Synagogue on the Sabbath eve, every man is accompanied by two angels, one good, the other evil.  If, on coming home, the man finds the lamp lit, the tables spread, and everything in order, the good angel says, “May the coming Sabbath be as this present one.”  To which the evil angel is compelled reluctantly to respond “Amen.”  But if everything be in disorder the bad angel says, “May the coming Sabbath be as the present one.”  To which the good angel is obliged reluctantly to respond, “Amen.”