Emor (אמור – say), Leviticus (21:1–24:23), Ezekiel 44:15-31
Olive oil plays a crucial role in the rituals of the Temple. It is used to prepare the anointing oil, used to consecrate the priests and sanctuary objects, and to fuel the Menorah, a powerful symbol of divine presence.
Leviticus 24:2
צַו אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית–לַמָּאוֹר: לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר, תָּמִיד.
Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
Renowned Olive Oil:
The region of Chania in Crete is renowned for its production of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. The Cretan Olive Mill, located in Chania, has won several gold medals in international competitions(1).
Etz Haïm Synagogue (Tree of Life):
After the Ottoman conquest of Crete in 1669, the Jewish community acquired a Venetian Catholic church dating back to the 14th century and transformed it into a synagogue, serving as a spiritual and cultural center for over three centuries. Damaged during World War II, it was left abandoned. Following the earthquake in 1995, Nikos Stavroulakis(2) took the initiative to restore the entire complex.
(1) Particularly with their Cretan Agrelia Koroneiki oil, produced from Koroneiki olives, the most common variety in Crete.
(2) Nicholas Peter Stavroulakis (1932 – 2017), also known as Peter Stavis, was a scholar, American-Greek artist, director, and founder of the Jewish Museum of Greece. He played a crucial role in preserving Jewish heritage in Greece.