Commentary for Sukkah 5:3
מִבְּלָאֵי מִכְנְסֵי כֹהֲנִים וּמֵהֶמְיָנֵיהֶן מֵהֶן הָיוּ מַפְקִיעִין, וּבָהֶן הָיוּ מַדְלִיקִין, וְלֹא הָיְתָה חָצֵר בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְאִירָה מֵאוֹר בֵּית הַשּׁוֹאֵבָה:
They would take strips from the worn-out breeches and belts of the priests and use them as wicks. And there was no courtyard in Jerusalem that was not illuminated by the light of the Beth Hashoeva. [For the menorahs were fifty cubits high, and the Temple Mount was high, and the light shone in all the city.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Sukkah
מבלאי מכנסי כהנים – from the rags of the pants of the Kohanim/priests, and from their old belts.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sukkah
Introduction
Today’s mishnah continues the description of the incredible light which shone from the menorah at the Simchat Bet Hashoevah.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sukkah
היו מפקיעים – they tear them to make wicks.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sukkah
From the worn-out pants and belts of the priests they made wicks and with them they kindled the lamps. The wicks that they used to light the candles were not made from any old ordinary material. They used the worn-out pants and belts the priests, which they wore in their Temple service. This teaches us that once something has been used for one mitzvah it is fitting that it should be used in another mitzvah as well.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sukkah
שלא היתה מאירה – because the Menorahs/candelabrums were fifty cubits tall and the Tempe Mount was tall and its light would shine throughout the entire city.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sukkah
And there was not a courtyard in Jerusalem that was not illuminated by the light of the Bet Hashoevah. The light from the menorah was so great that according to the mishnah it lit up all of Jerusalem.
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