Pure olive oil, crushed for illumination. (27:20)
Question: The famous commenter Rashi explains that the first drop of oil pressed is the finest, and such oil was used to kindle the Menorah (candelabra). The remaining oil of the olive (which was not as pure) was used for meal offerings.
Normally, one uses the best oil for baking and cheaper oil for burning or lighting. Why in the Tabernacle was it the reverse?
Answer: The menorah is the prototype of spirituality. It represents Torah and mitzvot, as King Shlomo states,1 A candle is a mitzvah and Torah is light. A meal offerings is eaten and represents the material and physical needs of a person.
Unfortunately, there are people who plead poverty when they have to spend money for Torah and good deeds, but have plenty of money when it comes to personal matters. From the way things were done in the Tabernacle, we can learn true priorities. For Torah and good deeds one should spend money and use the best and purest. For personal pleasure, a Jew should practice restraint and learn to suffice with less.
Pure olive oil, crushed for illumination. (27:20)
Question: The Talmud2 says that the olives were divided into three grades, superior, intermediate and inferior. The oil of each grade was divided into three quality levels. The first level of the superior grade was supreme, and it was used for the kindling of the Menorah. The second oil of the superior grade and the first oil of the intermediate grade were of equally acceptable for meal-offerings but only the first oil of the intermediate grade could be used for the menorah, and not the second oil of the superior grade. The third oil of the superior grade and the second oil of the intermediate grade and the first oil of the inferior grade were all equal for meal-offerings, but only the first oil of the inferior grade could be used for the menorah.
Why should the first oil of the inferior grade have priority for the kindling of the menorah over the second and third oil of the superior grade?
Answer: Not all men are alike. Some have better faculties and some poorer. King Shlomo says,3 "A candle is a mitzvah and Torah is light" and all the details connected with the menorah contain teachings which apply to man's life. The teaching of the different levels of oil is that G-d does not expect one person to be like another person, but He does expect him to achieve his utmost. Therefore, if one is capable of being on the highest level, one may not settle for being second. On the other hand, if one is only capable of the second level and one excels in that, his achievement equals that of the one who is uppermost in the first level.
The famous righteous man Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli once said, "When I come before the Heavenly tribunal, I am not afraid they will demand of me, 'Why wasn't Zusha like the patriarch Abraham?' But I am afraid lest they ask me, 'Why wasn't Zusha as Zusha could have been?'"
You shall offer one lamb in the morning and the second lamb in the afternoon. (29:39)
Question: According to the Midrash4 when Abraham bound Isaac for a sacrifice, G-d instituted the offering of two lambs daily, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. What is the connection between the offerings and the binding of Isaac?
Answer: When man is young, he is full of zest, and pursues his aspirations of wealth and success. Scaled to the day, this stage of life is the "morning services" the morning period. Many times, unfortunately, he claims that this preoccupation does not allow time for Torah study and service of G-d.
When man passes the mid-years of his life, which corresponds to the afternoon he claims that he lacks the strength to study Torah due to physical weakening.
At the binding of Isaac, Abraham was an old man of 137 years and Isaac was a young man of 37. Regardless of their respective ages, the two of them dedicated themselves entirely to the service of G-d. At that time, G-d instituted the two daily sacrifices, to teach man that, regardless of his age, he must serve G-d every day.
You should make an altar on which to burn incense. (30:1)
Question: Why isn't the golden altar discussed in the previous Torah portion of Terumah, together with all the other vessels of the Tabernacle?
Answer: Without an altar, it would be impossible to bring sacrifices. Without the Ark, there would be no place to store the Tablets. Without a menorah, it would be impossible to kindle candles on a daily basis. Without a table, there would not be a place to put the show-bread.
The golden altar was used only to burn the daily offering of incense ("Ketoret"). Even without an altar, incense could be offered on the place where the altar stood. Therefore, this altar is not recorded together with all the other items, since the Tabernacle could function without it.5
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