Oil alludes to the capacity for bittul—surrendering the complex of our own self awareness, ego, and desires to G-d. Oil is extracted through the crushing of the olive, in the process of combustion it is exhausted completely, leaving nothing behind, and when it burns, it does so silently, without resistance. All these physical realities reflect its spiritual profile of surrender.
Absolute abnegation of the self, however, is not possible without Divine assistance. A limited human being cannot completely transcend his own sense of existence. Therefore, the sages maintained that only oil from the Land of Israel is appropriate to use in the Beis Hamikdash. Israel is the land which G-d observes constantly; it is a place where G-d’s intervention and assistance is evident. Thus, it is only oil from Israel, Divinely-assisted inspiration, that can lead a person to complete surrender.
Abba Shaul disagrees, however, and maintains that oil from Regev is “secondary” but also viable to be used in the Beis Hamikdash. Even though Regev is part of Transjordan, not the Land of Israel proper, its oil can still elicit spiritual surrender. The reason being, these lands were requested by the tribes of Ephraim and Menashe, by human beings, but only G-d could accede and grant their request. Thus, the spiritual quality of these lands is approximate to the land of Israel, in that G-d graces them with His presence.
