The oil that was used for the Menorah was to be pure, untainted by any olive particles or sediment. The oil that was used for the Menachos, meal-offerings, was derived from crushed, rather than pressed, olives. Hence, this oil was not as pure. The commentators render this disparity homiletically. Horav Shlomo Sofer, zl, cites the fact that the Menorah and its light are symbolic of the Torah and daas Torah, its perspective. When dealing with Torah perspective, we must retain the essence of purity. We make no allowance for alien philosophies. It must be pure – like the oil for the Menorah. Indeed, our fear has never been in response to those that have chosen to transgress the Torah. Rather, the major threat to Torah Judaism has been from those whose interpretation of the Torah has either been blemished from the start or has been tainted as a result of an alien, non-Torah-oriented perspective.
We may add another lesson that can be derived from the fact that the oil for the Menorah was prepared by a gentle pressing of the olive, releasing the purest oil. The Menorah, which serves as an analogy for Torah study, teaches us an important lesson in Jewish education. In order to effect the most desirable and successful result in teaching our students, we must teach them in a gentle and loving manner. By crushing the olive/student, placing upon him almost unbearable demands, we will not produce a ben-Torah according to the Torah’s perspective. “Divrei Torah b’nachas nishmaim,” words of Torah, if taught in a pleasant manner, are heard and received.
