It's more than just a source of delicious oil; it's a metaphor for the Jewish people themselves. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah 36 and unpack its rich layers of meaning.
The verse that kicks things off is from (Exodus 27:20): “And you shall command the children of Israel, and they shall bring you pure olive oil, pressed for illumination, to kindle a lamp continually.” But what’s the connection between olive oil and the people of Israel? The text leads us to a verse in (Jeremiah 11:16): “The Lord called your name a flourishing olive tree, fair of fruit and form.”
Now, the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) asks a pretty direct question: Why only an olive tree? Weren't the Israelites compared to other impressive trees as well? We find them likened to grapevines in (Psalm 80:9), fig trees in (Hosea 9:10), date palms in (Song of Songs 7:8), and cedars in (Psalms 92:13). And don't forget the nut garden mentioned in (Song of Songs 6:11)! The text even references (Song of Songs 4:13-14), which compares Israel to an orchard bursting with pomegranates, henna, saffron, and a whole host of other fragrant delights. So why single out the olive?
The answer, according to Shemot Rabbah, lies in the unique process required to extract olive oil. Just think about it: the olive is picked, beaten, taken to the press, ground, and squeezed under immense pressure. Only then does it yield its precious oil. Similarly, the text argues, the people of Israel are beaten and oppressed, scattered from place to place, and subjected to hardship. But through it all, they remain resilient, and ultimately, their suffering leads to repentance and redemption. As it says in (Exodus 2:23), "The children of Israel sighed due to the bondage, and they cried out, and their plea came up to God.” (Deuteronomy 4:30-31) echoes this idea: “When you are in distress, and all these matters befall you…you will return to the Lord your God, and you will heed His voice, as the Lord your God is a merciful God."
But there's more! The Midrash offers another insightful comparison: Oil doesn't mix with other liquids. It remains distinct. Similarly, Israel is called to remain distinct from other nations, as (Deuteronomy 7:3) states: “You shall not intermarry with them.” Furthermore, oil always rises to the top. When the Israelites follow God's will, they rise above the other nations, just as (Deuteronomy 28:1) promises: "the Lord your God will place you uppermost over all the nations of the earth."
Then, the text shifts gears, connecting the olive tree to Jerusalem and the Temple. It references (Psalm 48:3), "Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire earth, is Mount Zion." The Hebrew word for "beautiful in its view" is nof, which the Midrash connects to the Greek word nymph, meaning "bride." Jerusalem, like a bride, was beautiful in the eyes of all. And the Temple, when it stood, brought joy because it provided atonement for sins. Imagine entering full of iniquities and leaving righteous! What greater joy could there be?
The Midrash contrasts Jerusalem with Tyre, which boasts of its own beauty in (Ezekiel 27:3). But while Tyre's claim is self-proclaimed, Jerusalem's beauty is universally acknowledged, as (Lamentations 2:15) laments: "Is this the city of which they said it was perfect in beauty?” The Temple, located on Mount Zion, illuminated the world, just as (Isaiah 60:3) prophesies: "Nations will walk by your light."
So, the olive tree isn't just a symbol of resilience and distinctiveness; it's also a symbol of Jerusalem's beauty, the Temple's light, and the enduring faith of the Jewish people. That’s why God commanded Moses that the Israelites bring pure olive oil: because they, like the olive, are meant to illuminate the world.
What does this mean for us today? Perhaps it's a reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can draw strength from our tradition, maintain our distinct identity, and strive to be a light to the world. Just like the olive, we have the potential to yield something precious, even after being pressed.
“And you shall command the children of Israel, and they shall bring you pure olive oil, pressed for illumination, to kindle a lamp continually” (Exodus 27:20). “And you shall command,” that is what is written: “The Lord called your name a flourishing olive tree, fair of fruit and form” (Jeremiah 11:16). Is the olive the only tree after which Israel was called? Was it not called after all sorts of fine and excellent trees? [Israel was called] a grapevine and a fig tree, as it is stated: “You transported a grapevine from Egypt” (Psalms 80:9); a fig tree, as it is stated: “Like the first fruit to ripen on a fig tree” (Hosea 9:10). A date palm, as it is stated: “This, your stature, is like a date palm” (Song of Songs 7:8). A cedar, as it is stated: “Like a cedar in Lebanon he grows tall” (Psalms 92:13). The nut tree, as it is stated: “I went down to the nut garden” (Song of Songs 6:11). He also called them like all types of growths in irrigated fields, as it is stated: “Your irrigated fields are a pomegranate orchard, [with delicious fruit, henna and lavender, lavender and saffron, lemongrass and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes with all the finest spices]” (Song of Songs 4:13–14). And Jeremiah came to say: “The Lord called your name a flourishing olive tree, fair of fruit and form”? Rather, just as the olive, while it is on the tree one picks it, then one takes it down from the tree and it is beaten, and after it is beaten, it is taken up to the olive press and placed into the mill where one grinds it, then one surrounds it with ropes, brings stones, and then they produce their oil. So too, Israel: idolaters come and beat them from place to place, incarcerate them, bind them in chains, and surround them with fences. Then they repent and the Holy One blessed be He answers them. From where is it derived? As it is stated: “The children of Israel sighed [due to the bondage, and they cried out, and their plea came up to God]” (Exodus 2:23). Likewise, “When you are in distress, and all these matters befall you…[you will return to the Lord your God, and you will heed His voice], as the Lord your God is a merciful God” (Deuteronomy 4:30–31), That is “the Lord called your name a flourishing olive tree, fair of fruit and form.” Another matter, what did Jeremiah see that he likened our ancestors to an olive tree? It is that all liquids intermingle with one another but oil does not mix, but rather it stands alone. So too, Israel does not intermingle with the idolaters, as it is stated: “You shall not intermarry with them” (Deuteronomy 7:3). Another matter, all liquids, when a person mixes them he does not know which is on the bottom and which is on top; however, oil, even if you mix it with all the liquids in the world, it will remain above them. So too, when our ancestors would perform the will of the Omnipresent, they would stand above the idolaters, as it is stated: “[It shall be if you shall heed the voice of the Lord your God to take care to perform all His commandments that I am commanding you today], the Lord your God will place you uppermost [over all the nations of the earth]” (Deuteronomy 28:1). That is “the Lord called your name a flourishing olive tree, fair of fruit and form.” Another matter, “a flourishing olive tree,” that is what is written: “Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire earth, [is Mount Zion]” (Psalms 48:3). What is “beautiful in its view [nof]”? In the Greek language they call a bride, nymph.1Jerusalem was beautiful in the eyes of all beholders, like a bride. “Joy of the entire earth,” it is because there was no one of Israel who was distressed when the Temple was intact. Why? It is because a person would enter it full of iniquities, would sacrifice an offering, and would thereby achieve atonement. There is no greater joy than when one would emerge from there righteous. That is “the Lord called your name a flourishing olive tree, fair of fruit and form.” It is written regarding Tyre: “You, Tyre, said: I am perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 27:3). You said it, but others do not say it; however, everyone speaks the praise of Jerusalem, as it is stated: “Is this the city of which they said it was perfect in beauty?” (Lamentations 2:15). It is written: “Mount Zion, the northern summit, the city of the great king” (Psalms 48:3), the place in which they sacrifice offerings, as it is stated: “He shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the Lord” (Leviticus 1:11). That is why it is stated: “The Lord called your name a flourishing olive tree, fair of fruit and form.” Just as oil illuminates, so the Temple illuminates for the entire world, as it is stated: “Nations will walk by your light” (Isaiah 60:3). That is why our ancestors were called “a flourishing olive tree,” because they illuminate for all with their faith. That is why the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “They shall bring you pure olive oil.”
