Every drop of oil counts

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In honor of
Josh Halickman’s 33rd Bar Mitzvah anniversary

In Parshat Emor (Vayikra 24:1-2) we
read about the olive oil that was needed for the menorah:

God said to Moshe, saying; “Command
B’nai Yisrael that they bring to you pure olive oil, pressed for lighting (shemen
zayit zach katit lamaor) to keep the lamp burning constantly.”

This verse sounds similar to the
opening words of Parshat Tetzaveh (Shmot 27:20):

“You shall command B’nai Yisrael that
they bring to you pure olive oil pressed for lighting (shemen zayit zach katit
lamaor) to keep the lamp burning constantly.”

Ramban proves why both statements
are needed:

In Shmot, B’nai Yisrael brought the
olive oil as a donation along with all of the other donations that were brought
for the Mishkan (Tabernacle). In Vayikra, the oil which the princes brought as
a donation was used up and therefore God commanded B’nai Yisrael to take from
the public treasury throughout the generations pure olive oil, pressed for
lighting as was the first oil (of the princes).

The Mishna in Menachot 86a explains
that the oil used for the lighting of the ner tamid (menorah) must be from the
first drops of oil that drip from the ripest of olives that are pounded.

The oil that emerges when the olives
are pressed further with beams or with stones is a lower grade oil which is used
for the menachot offerings but is not pure enough for the menorah.

Shmot 29:40 refers to the mincha
offering which was brought with the daily tamid sacrifice:

“And a tenth of an ephah (measure)
of fine flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of pressed olive oil (bashemen
katit)…”

The Talmud, Menachot 86b explains
that the oil of crushed olives (the purest oil) may be used for the menachot
offerings but is not required in order to spare the Jews the expense of
obtaining it.

Many mincha offerings are brought
every day and if we needed to only use the purest oil from crushed olives, then
the demand would drive up the cost. The menorah only requires one “log” of oil
for each of the seven lamps (3 ½ “lugin” a day). This is a relatively small
amount of oil that can be obtained at a minimal cost.

The Gemara asks why we care about
sparing Jews the extra expense.

Rabbi Elazar said: The Torah is
concerned with Israel’s wealth.

The Torah does not want us to incur
even minor financial losses. If we are able to continue pressing the olives
further with a beam or with a stone to draw out more oil, why should we waste
what is left of those olives? It is perfectly acceptable for that oil to be used
for the menachot offerings.

The same is true with the foods and
products that we have in our homes. Instead of wasting food, we should make it
a priority to eat whatever we bought before it gets spoiled. As well, we should
try to repurpose as many products as we can. It will save us money in the long
run as well as save the environment.

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