The first verse of our Parshah reads, "And you (Moses) shall instruct the
children of Israel and they shall take olive oil to you" for the kindling of the
menorah in the Sanctuary. But Aaron was the one charged to light the monorah;
why must we take our olive oil to Moses?
Olives are a metaphor for the Jewish people. In the words of our sages, just
as oil is extracted when the olive is compressed so does the Jew reveal his oil
when he is oppressed. Oil refers to the inner resolve of our neshama
(soul) that emerges in times of challenge.
The Wick and the Flame
However, oil alone cannot produce light, it requires a wick and a flame. The
wick is the Jew and the flame is Torah. Moses, as the source of Torah, is able
to touch the flame to the oil and wick. This is why we, the wick, are instructed
to bring our inner resolve, the oil, to Moses, the source of Torah.
We are a stubborn nation. When our position is challenged we tend to cling
tenaciously. We produce plenty of oil; but without a flame the oil is useless.
Our resolve must be inspired by Torah, our fight must be directed by Torah and
our loyalty must be exclusively to Torah.
Purim
The story of Purim showcased this inner quality. Haman threatened to
annihilate the Jewish people. Faced with this challenge the Jewish people
revealed their oil. Mordechai gathered twenty-two thousand children and taught
them Torah. They did not cry, they did not fight, they simply studied Torah. To
be sure, Mordechai engaged in diplomatic efforts behind the scenes; but he
placed greater faith in his Torah study than his diplomacy.
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