Why Did it Take Eight Days to Make New Oil for the Menorah?

Question

Why did it take 8 days to produce new pure olive oil?

An expert can do it in one hour.

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    Good question!

    They needed to make new, ritually pure olive oil for the Menorah had become ritually impure from contact with the dead who were killed in the battles. Their vessels were impure as well. They all required a 7 day purification process involving the Red Heifer (para aduma).

    After they were pure, they made a new pure batch of olive oil in one hour, as you point out they could do.

     

     

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team