The Oil of the Menorah, A Message For Our Children's Role Models
Olive oil was an essential product in serving HaShem in the Mishkan and later in the Bais HaMikdosh. It was a major ingredient in the meal offerings brought on the altar and the fuel used for the daily lighting of the Menorah. In the Torah’s description of the preparation of the oil for both usages there is a distinction made. Although both were considered pure oil, the Menorah’s oil was pure from its inception and the meal offering became pure through a process. The Menorah’s oil never had any dregs in it unlike the meal offering’s oil where the dregs were removed from it following its extraction from the olive. In fact, despite its purity at the end of the process, if it were not pure from the outset its usage in the Menorah would disqualify the service.
It makes sense to consider the service of the Menorah to be on a higher spiritual level than the Meal offering because of the superiority in the oil. Similarly, in the lessons that are drawn from the oil the same comparison can be made. One such lesson is presented in the writings of HaRav Moshe Feinstein, Z”L. Perhaps because the Menorah represents Torah, “Orah Zoo Torah”, He saw the comparison to a anyone whose role in life is to lead others in the ways of the Torah. Parents, Grandparents, Rabonim, Rebeyiim and Moros are all members of this auspicious group. All of them need as a prerequisite to this Holy calling good deeds that are all unquestionably free of any evidence of impropriety, even actions that ultimately were misunderstood and later cleared of wrong. The connection to the oil is as follows, in the same way that the oil that is suitable for the Menorah never had any dregs so to the people who are most suitable for guiding others in Torah are those whose actions are consistently proper and are never questionable in their appropriateness.
As a support to this insight, HaRav Moshe pointed out that Aharon and his offspring, who were given the privilege of lighting the Menorah for all generations, were appointed to that task prior to becoming Cohanim. This order underscores that Aharon was selected because of his worthiness, because of his deeds. You could say, that he and his children embodied the message of the olive oil used for the lighting. As a result, they were later elevated to be the Cohanim, the epitome of Torah leadership in Israel.
The description of the personality described above needs some clarity. We shouldn’t think that the comparison to the pure oil that never had dregs in it is compared to someone who never sinned. Chazal tell us that only four people in history deserve that distinction. Rather, the emphasis is on a person’s mindset. The superior oil of the Menorah is associated with people who don’t want to involve themselves in situations that can possibly be misleading to others and rely on an explanation and clarification that what they did was totally appropriate. Because maybe, the onlookers, impressionable youth, might not pickup on the clarification and will be grossly mislead by an apparent inappropriate action on the part of their Torah role models.
This idea is supported by a keen insight by HaRav Yaakov Kaminetzky, Z”L. He questioned how does it make sense that Yaakov Avinu’s bracha/consequence to the tribe of Shimon was to be the Rebbeyiim of TASHBAR, the tender young yeshiva students. This prophetic appointment came as a result of Shimon and Levi’s seemingly anger laden actions against Shechem for violating their sister Dina. They killed off the entire city. Our Sages teach us that hot headed and easy to anger people should avoid the teaching profession. HaRav Yaakov explained that the source of their hostile behavior is a character trait that all teachers of Torah should possess. Shimon and Levi were highly principled people whose actions clearly reflected who they were and what they stood for. They never did something that could have been misconstrued with the thought that they would clarify it later. Regarding their actions against Shechem, they stood by their principles despite its outcome. However, in teaching young children, principled people provide clarity for children that in turn lead to sincere happiness and spiritual growth. They emulated the oil of the Menorah, committed to total clarity in thought and action.
As members of the auspicious group of guides for our youth in the ways of the Torah, we should know that we are our greatest tools. For every effective MIddos/Derech Eretz/character development program used in our schools, the first step is or should be teachers with impeccable characters, like the oil of the Menorah. As well, the parents of strongly functional Torah households who are raising children that are organically developing a healthy and positive relationship with Torah and Mitzvos are most likely comporting themselves in the manner of the oil of the Menorah. There is a powerful mashal that helps to bring clarity on this pertinent topic on parenting and teaching. We are all familiar with the preparations for take for every passenger flight in the free world and beyond. They say in case of shortness of air in the cabin oxygen masks will drop from overhead compartments. Those flying with small children should secure their own mask before helping their children. The adults must secure their breathing before they can successfully secure the breathing of little ones. In the same way, adults need to secure their spiritual oxygen before helping their children to breath.