About this episode
Hillel was known to be incredibly patient and answered silly questions on Erev Shabbat from someone who was just trying to get him angry. A number of people came to convert before Shamai and Hillel and had preconditions, like only wanting to accept the written Torah or wanted to convert to become the high priest. Shamai was impatient with them and kicked them out but Hillel accepted them and ultimately through learning, they came to accept all of Judaism. One came and asked to know all the Torah while standing on one leg - Shamai kicked him out but Hillel told him "What is hated by you, do not do to your friend. And the rest is all commentary." Fear of God is the most important thing and one who learns without having it is considered missing something very basic - like getting keys to an inner room without getting the keys to the main room that leads to that inner room. Various verses are brought showing the importance of fearing God. How do all these stories/statements connect to the topic of Shabbat and the mishna that we are learning regarding situations when one can or cannot extinguish a candle of Shabbat? The opinion of Rabbi Yossi in the mishna that one can extinguish for all the reasons other than one who wants to save the wick, is it according to Rabbi Shimon or Rabbi Yehuda regarding melacha sheina tzricha legufa ? Two approaches are brought - one explaining it according to Rabbi Yehuda and one according to Rabbi Shimon.