Olive Oil for the Menorah

וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה | אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַֽעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר תָּמִֽיד:

And you shall command the children of Israel, and they shall take to you pure olive oil, crushed for lighting, to kindle the lamps continually.

In last week’s parsha, Terumah, the Menorah that was used in the Mishkan and later the Bet HaMikdash was described. Now in Parshat Tetzaveh, we learn about the pure olive oil that was burned in the Menorah. The oil had to be pure and of the highest quality, carefully extracted from the olives without the use of chemicals or other impurities. In fact, the Talmud tells us that the oil used for the Menorah had to be made from the first drop of oil that was extracted from each olive, which was considered the purest and most precious part of the oil.

The use of pure olive oil in the Menorah is rich with symbolism and meaning. Olive oil is not only a light source but also a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. Just as the Menorah shed light in the darkness of the Mishkan, so too do wisdom and knowledge illuminate the darkness of our lives.

Rashi explains that the olives must be crushed in a mortar, and not ground, and must be clear of any sediment.

The use of pure olive oil reminds us of the importance of purity and holiness. The Menorah could only burn with pure olive oil, just as our souls can only be truly nourished by that which is pure and holy. In order for us to grow spiritually and connect with God, we must strive for purity and holiness in all aspects of our lives.

Finally, the use of olive oil in the Menorah is a reminder of the importance of giving of ourselves. Just as olives must be crushed and pressed to extract their oil, so too must we be willing to give of ourselves and be crushed by the challenges and struggles of life in order to extract the goodness within us.

The pure olive oil in the Menorah teaches us about the importance of purity, holiness, wisdom, and giving. May we always strive to cultivate these values in our lives and be blessed to have our inner lights shine brightly in the world.