Op-Ed: The Significance of Olive Oil During Hanukkah
ByMarcia G.
Why is the miracle of Chanukah about olive oil? Probably everyone who is reading this knows the answer. Chazal (our Sages) explain it in the Gemara (the Talmud) (Shabbat 21b):
When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary, they defiled all the oils there. And when the [future] rulers from the family of the Chashmonaim (the Macabees) prevailed and defeated them, they searched and found only one vessel of oil set away with the seal of the High Priest. It had in it only enough to light for one day. A miracle was done to it and they lit from it for eight days. The next year, they established [those days] as holy days for giving praise and thanks.