Five ways the Jews are like olive oil:

  1. As oil refuses to mix with other liquids, so the Jews have remained distinct throughout their exile.

  2. As oil soaks through everything, the Jews have been everywhere on the globe.

  3. As oil floats to the top, so Jews have risen to be leaders in humanity’s progress.

  4. As oil brings light to the world, so the Jews are a light to the nations.

  5. As the olive is crushed to produce oil, the Jews, when crushed, shine yet more light.

see Midrash Rabbah, Song of Songs, 1:3:2.