The Significance of Olive Oil in Judaism by Aharon Pultman

CHANUKAH CENTER the Significance of Olive Oil in Judaism

Shemen zayis, olive oil, is the most important oil in Judaism. As the default oil of the Torah, it has special significance and is essential in the performance of many different mitzvos.

Menorah

Olive oil was used in the daily kindling of the Menorah in the Mishkan and in the Bais Hamikdash. This oil was required to be of the utmost purity. The Torah specifies that the oil be” shemen zayis zach kasis l’maor,” pure olive oil beaten for the light. The Talmud (Minachos 86) explains this to mean that the olives were to be placed in a mortar and beaten with a pestle, not ground in a mill. This would ensure that the oil be of the finest quality and free of sediments. After the first drop was extracted, the olives could no longer be used to provide oil for the Menorah. Oil used for the Menorah had to be produced and stored in the strictest conditions in order to prevent its contamination with tumah (ritual impurity). In the well-known miracle of Chanukah, when the Maccabees overthrew the Seleucid Greeks and rededicated the Bais Hamikdash, only one container of oil was found with the seal of the Kohein Gadol still intact. Despite it only being sufficient to light the Menorah for one day, a miracle occurred and the oil burned for eight days which was enough time for new oil to be prepared.

By Aharon Pultman

Shemen Hamishchah

Olive oil formed the base of the Shemen Hamishcha or Anointing Oil. As described in the Torah, (Shemos:30:23) this olive oil was infused with a mixture of special spices comprising pure myrrh (mar deror), cinnamon (kinnemon besem), fragrant cane (qaneh-bosem) and cassia (kiddah). The Shemen Hamishcha was used to sanctify the Mishkan and its vessels, as well as Aharon Hakohen and his sons and future kohanim gedolim. Additionally, there is a mitzvah to anoint the kohein moshiach melchama, the priest anointed for war, who would speak with the people before battle.

The Shemen Hamishcha was also used to consecrate the vessels of the Bais Hamikdosh and to anoint Jewish kings as mentioned regarding King Shaul (Samuel:10:1). Using the Shemen Hamishcha for a zar (outsider) or replicating it is a grave sin punishable by kares (cutting off).

Minachos

Olive oil combined with flour was also an ingredient for various minachot (meal offerings), including the Korban Mincha. The Korban Mincha was the daily afternoon korban of fine flour with olive oil and frankincense that was offered in the Bais Hamikdash.

Ner Shabbos

The Mishna (Shabbos 2:2) cites the opinion of Rabbi Tarfon that one may only light the Shabbos candles with olive oil.

The Shulchan Aruch concludes that while there are many permissible oils with which one may light the Shabbos candles, olive oil is considered preferable.

Ner Chanukah

The Gemara (Shabbos 23a) records that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, " All oils are suitable for the lamp, but olive oil is the most select of oils. Abaye said: At first, my Master, (Rabba), would seek sesame oil, as he said: The light of sesame oil lasts longer and does not burn as quickly as olive oil. Once he heard that statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, he sought olive oil because he said: Its light is clearer.” The Rema (OC 673:1 ) writes that olive oil is the preferred choice to light the menorah. Others add (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, ibid) that it is also preferable to use olive oil since the miracle of Chanukah occurred with olive oil.

Cultural and Culinary Uses

Midrashei Chazal

Olive oil has a long and storied history of cultivation and use by Jews in the land of Israel. During the first Roman Jewish war, the Jews used oil as a weapon. In the battle of Yodfat, boiling oil was poured down from the city walls on the besieging Romans. In the times of the Mishna and Gemara, oil was the main export of Jewish farmers in Galilee. Olive oil was an essential part of the everyday diet in ancient Israel mixed with flour for cakes, for frying meat, and eaten with bread and stews. It was also commonly used as a source of fuel for lamps. Oil was used in medicine to heal wounds and bruises and in cosmetics to soothe and lubricate the body. It is worthwhile to note that during the era of the Inquisition in Spain, Inquisitors paid special attention to those who fried meat in olive oil rather than non-kosher lard, as was the common practice in Spain at the time.

CHANUKAH CENTER

One who sees olive oil in a dream, should expect to merit the light of Torah (Brachos, 27:1). The sages say that one who is accustomed to eat olives is liable to forget his learning. Curiously, olive oil has the opposite effect. As Rabbi Yochanan says, “Just as the olive causes one to forget learning of 70 years, so too olive oil causes one to remember learning of 70 years.” As we have seen, olive oil is given pride of place and is an integral part of the observance of many mitzvos. But on what merit was olive oil chosen over other oils? This can be explained with the following quote from the Midrash Rabbah (Vayikrah Rabbah 31): "Rabbi Chiya taught, "'Olive oil, and not sesame oil, nut oil, radish oil or almond oil. But rather olive oil, from your olive tree." The question is why did the olive tree gain such distinction? The Midrash goes on to explain: "Rabbi Avin said, "[There is a relevant] parable about a king whose legions had revolted against him, but one of his legions had not revolted against him. The king said, 'I will make dukes, governors and generals from that legion that did not rebel against me.' So [too] did the Holy One, blessed be He, say, 'This olive tree brought light to the world in the days of Noach.' This is [the understanding of] that which is written (Bereishis 8:11), ‘The dove came back to him toward evening, and there in its bill was a plucked-off olive leaf.’”

Yefeh To'ar explains the meaning of the parable. The legion which revolted refers to the people, animals, and even the earth which were corrupted before the flood in the times of Noach. The legion that did not revolt refers to the olive tree, which remained uncorrupted, thus explaining its merit.

May we merit to see the return of the usage of olive oil in the avodah of the Bais Hamikdosh, speedily in our days, Amen.