כוְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה | אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַֽעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר תָּמִֽיד:
Question and source:
Rashi explains that the first drop of oil pressed is the finest, and this oil was used for lighting the Menorah. The remaining oil which was not as pure, was then used for menachot (meal offerings).
Normally, one would use the best oil for baking and the not so great oil for burning or lighting so why in the Mishkan, was it the opposite?
Lilly fuchs:
ReplyDeleteShadal explains that the word כתית is describing the oil and the purity of the oil but not the actual OLIVE that is made into oil. This is interesting because many opinions think this sentence is describing the purity which ends up being made into oil
The chasam sofer explains that the better oil had to be used for the menorah because the menorah represents Torah and we have to use the best oil to represent Torah. I like this answer because it connects the menorah to Torah and is showing us to be extra careful when lighting the menorah because it symbolizes Torah.
ReplyDelete-Nealy Saks
The reason that one oil is superior to another oil and therefore is used to light the menorah is because it hints to a deeper meaning about how not all people are alike. Meaning, though hashem doesn’t expect the same out of each person, he does expect them to be the best they can be, and so they may not settle for being less than their potential and if they achieve a higher level than appointed to them they are considered equal to that higher level. So just as there are different levels of oil and each is appointed to a specific task, each person is designated a specific task in life and therefore they are judged based off of their own capabilities rather than compared to others.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very beautiful idea that we can take from a simple concept of oil and really internalize when we feel down about not being good enough.
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2830767/jewish/The-Menorah-Oil.htm
Sforno comments on the words “ואתה תצוה” and explains since the Torah used the word “ואתה”, which means: “and you personally,” Hashem wanted Moshe to personally issue the instructions to the Israelites concerning providing the oil for the Menorah. I think that this is a really nice idea, the fact that Hashem changed his language to make it personal shows how important it was to him that Moshe give the instructions personally, rather than in-personally.
ReplyDeleteKayla Tarlow
ReplyDeleteAccording to Chabad.org the reason they used the finer oil in menorah is because unfortunately there are people who will claim to not have the money in order to observe Torah and mitzvah but they have plenty of money when it comes to personal matters. The way the oil was used in the mishkan is an example of what our priorities should be. A Jew should spend more money on Torah and mitzvot in order to practice it in the best possible way and should give up a little more and learn to live w a little less.
I think this is a great example in the Torah. There are plenty of times when materialistic needs become more important than spiritual ones and it’s hard to prioritize. This is a great reminder for all of us of what is truly important in life.
^^^
ReplyDeletehttps://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2830767/jewish/The-Menorah-Oil.htm
According to Chabad.org not everyone's financial situation is the same. Shlomo says “a man's soul is the candle of Hashem”. We can learn from the different levels of oil that hashem does not expect one person to be like another. Using the greatest oil and only the greatest oil, teaches us that If we are the candle of Hashem, we should each be our greatest selves and only our greatest selves. We never settle for being our second best selves.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2830767/jewish/The-Menorah-Oil.htm
Meira Cohen
ReplyDeleteBoth the Chizkuni and the Malbim explain how the illumination of the Mishkan done by the Menorah was supposed to emulate which was done on the seven days of creation. Hashem created light before anything else, including vegetation, because the light enabled everything else to be created. That is why it is important that only the best and most pure olive oil should be used for the lighting of the Menorah. This is a very interesting idea because sometimes we need to focus and give more attention to the seemingly smaller and build on our core, in order to better other things in our lives.
Ally Brandwein:
ReplyDeleteThe Ohr Hachaim comments that the oil used for the Menorah was oil that would let it burn continually. He also adds that this oil may not prevent Israel from having spiritual darkness ever again. This proves why the first drop of oil was special- because God wanted it to do something more meaningful.
https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.28.1?lang=bi&with=Or%20HaChaim&lang2=en