The Olive Twist

How does a fruit become a light?

In Parshas Emor, we learn that pure olive oil was used to light the menorah in the Mishkan. Olive oil is one of the best natural fuels. It’s made mostly of fat molecules that store lots of energy. When the oil touches a flame, heat breaks those molecules apart. The carbon and hydrogen inside them mix with oxygen from the air, and energy is released as light and heat.

Unlike many other oils, olive oil burns slowly and cleanly: a steady, beautiful flame with no bad smell or smoke. That is why olive oil is still used in lamps and cooking today. This simple oil has been fueling light for thousands of years.