Why the Temple Burned Its Purest Olive Oil in the Menorah

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Tetzaveh 3:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Exodus 27:20:) CLEAR OIL OF [BEATEN] OLIVES FOR THE LIGHT. By the custom that is in the world, if a person has bad oil, he lights it in a lamp; but the fine oil he puts into a cooked dish. In the Temple, however, they would not do so. Rather, the clear olive oil they would put for the light, and the one second to it they would put for the meal offerings. David said (in II Samuel 22:29): "For You are my lamp, O LORD," and so forth.

Themes

ChanukahTempleLightPurityTemple Vessels

Biblical References

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Midrash Tanchuma Buber, TetzavehWhy God Commands the Menorah Light Though He Needs No Light"And you shall command the Children of Israel to bring you pure olive oil", but why? Not because the Holy One needs light. The God who spoke the world into beinMidrash Tanchuma Buber, Beha'alotchaWhy Only Pure Olive Oil Kindles the Menorah Lamps"When you set up the lamps," the verse commands Aaron. And the Maggid asks: of all the oils a person might pour into a flame, why does the Holy One, blessed be Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Beha'alotchaWhy God Commands the Menorah Though He Needs No LightWhy kindle the lamps of the menorah for the One who is light itself? The Holy One, blessed be He told Moses to say to Israel: I do not ask you to light a lamp bPesikta RabbatiWhere Did They Learn That It Is Permissible to Light a Channukah LightTeach us, oh master – may one light a lamp for personal use from the Channukah lights? Our masters taught us – R’ Acha said in the name of Rav ‘it is forbidden Midrash Tanchuma Buber, ShminiThree Things Moses Found Hard and the Menorah of FireThere were three things, our Sages taught, that even Moses found too hard to grasp, the making of the menorah, the renewal of the moon, and the creeping things.Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Beha'alotchaWhy God Asks Israel to Kindle Light for the Light of the WorldWhen the command came to kindle the menorah, Israel answered back to the Holy One: Master of the Universe, You are the Light of the world. Daniel says light dwe