סימן עה סעיף ג
מִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר לְהַדְלִיק בְּשֶׁמֶן זַיִת. וְגַם שֶׁמֶן הָרָגִיל בֵּינֵינוּ שֶׁקּוֹרִין שֶׁמֶן פְּרָחִים (בלומענעהל) כָּשֵׁר. אֲבָל שְׁאָר שְׁמָנִים, יֵשׁ מֵהֶם שֶׁאֵינָם כְּשֵׁרִים, וְגַם הְַפְּתִילָה יְהַדֵּר שֶׁתְּהֵא מִצֶּמֶר גֶּפֶן אוֹ פִּשְׁתָּן אוֹ קַנָּבוֹס, כִּי בִּשְׁאָר דְּבָרִים, יֵשׁ מֵהֶם שֶׁאֵינָם כְּשֵׁרִים. וּבִמְדִינָתֵנוּ נוֹהֲגִין לְהַדְלִיק בְּנֵרוֹת הָעֲשׂוּיִים מֵחֵלֶב, וְהֵן כְּשֵׁרוֹת אֲבָל לְהַנִּיחַ חֲתִיכַת חֵלֶב בְּתוֹךְ כְּלִי וּבְתוֹכוֹ פְּתִילָה, אָסוּר לְהַדְלִיק כֵּן. הַמַּדְלִיק צָרִיךְ שֶׁיַּדְלִיק עַד שֶׁיֵּאָחֵז הָאוֹר בְּרֹב אוֹתָהּ חֲתִיכַת פְּתִילָה הַיּוֹצְאָה מִן הַנֵּר. וְכֵן בְּנֵרוֹת הָעֲשׂוּיִם מֵחֵלֶב צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֵּאָחֵז הָאוֹר בְּרֹב הַפְּתִילָה הַיּוֹצֵאת.
It is a mitzvah done in its perfection to light with olive oil, but even the oil we commonly use that is called "Blumenöl" is kosher. But among other oils, there are some that are not kosher.10This does not refer to Kashruth in regard to eating but only in regard to lighting. Certain oils give off a bad odor and therefore it could cause the family to leave the room and eat in the dark [Shulchan Aruch 264: 3]. Regarding the wick too, it is best to use cotton, flax, or hemp; for among other materials there are some that are not kosher.11For they sputter and you may mistakenly adjust the flame on Shabbos in violation of the prohibition of lighting fire; see Maseches Shabbos 22a. And in our country12The author lived in Hungary. we are accustomed to light with candles of tallow which are kosher.13The tallow need not be kosher but should be made of fat that comes from kosher animals. But putting a piece of fat into a vessel, and inserting a wick into it—is forbidden for the purpose of candle lighting.14Tallow may be used only in the form of candles where it is drawn well into the wick. But you may not use it as you would use oil, because in that form it is not drawn well into the wick. The one who lights the candles must light them until the fire ignites most of the wick protruding from the candle. The same applies to candles made from tallow; the fire must ignite most of the wick that protrudes from the candle.
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא שנאמר הליכות עולם לו אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות (נדה ע"ג.)