Dear Hevre,
I hope you’ve had an enjoyable fall season. By the time you read this article, we will be fast approaching the festival of Hanukkah, which begins on the evening of Wednesday, December 1st.
The holiday offers numerous layers of meaning. Many Jews focus on the universal theme of light in the season of darkness, around the time of the winter solstice. Some focus on the quest for religious freedom and the story of the Maccabean military victory. Some focus on the message of hope symbolized by the discovery—as the Talmud tells us—of a single unspoiled vial of olive oil within the ruins of the ancient Temple. Others may focus on the legendary miracle of the oil burning in the Temple lamp for eight days, far exceeding all expectations.
The timing of the holiday, however—beginning on the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev—emphasizes the importance of olive oil, the ancient staple itself. In his new book The Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, Rabbi Gil Marks explains that “Long before the advent of Hanukkah…the 25th day of Kislev was the traditional date for the end of the harvest of olives for oil.” The Mishna (Bikkurim 1:6) similarly mentions Hanukkah as a pivotal agricultural date, surely referring to the olive harvest which is so ubiquitous in Israel.
Indeed, our ancestors in the Middle East and the Mediterranean counted olive oil among their key staples. Our Torah (Deuteronomy 8:8) refers to olives as one of seven species of agricultural bounty of the Land of Israel. Together with grain and wine, olive oil formed one of the three pillars of the economy and diet of ancient Israel.
Just as the flask of olive oil discovered by the Maccabees at Hanukkah burned miraculously long and bright, so too olive oil can help fuel a life of longevity and vigor in modern times. You’ve probably already read about some health benefits of this ancient and flavorful staple. However, the public is just starting to learn about one crucial, underlying advantage: as a substitute for other vegetable oils, olive oil can help people to achieve and maintain a healthy balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It can help us to avoid the endemic, dangerous excess of omega-6 acids that we find in the modern Western food supply.
This balance of fatty acids significantly helps to combat the prevalant diseases of civilization. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Vol. 70, No. 3) reported that a proper ratio is crucial “in the prevention and management of coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”
While both types of fatty acid are essential, most Americans consume vastly excessive quantities of omega-6 and not nearly enough omega-3. Our food supply inundates us with omega-6′s especially from vegetable oils (corn, soy, cotton seed, peanut, rapeseed, etc).
Unlike most other common vegetable oils, however, olive oil contains very few omega-6 acids. By restoring olive oil as a central component of our diet—like in ancient Israel—and removing most modern vegetable oils, we can likely move toward greater health and longevity. While no dietary choices or lifestyle considerations can guarantee long life or a disease-free existence, this flavorful and versatile liquid offers a step in the right direction.
Hanukkah reminds us of the importance of this ancient dietary staple, which can help to restore a healthy balance. It’s also a delicious ingredient, full of a variety of flavors and aromas depending on the source and the season.
This last year hundreds of chefs, restauranteurs, culinary critics, nutritional experts and enthusiastic tourists converged in Jerusalem for the Terra Olivo Mediterranean International Olive Oil Competition. The judges awarded eighteen gold medals to Israeli olive oils, along with many other golds for products from other countries. It seems that Israel is abuzz with a revival of this key staple that we celebrate at Hanukkah. Some of these award-winning Israeli oils, like Halutza and LiveO, are available in the US by telephone or online order.
Hanukkah offers a perfect time to sample and taste a variety of olive oils, either raw or in uncooked dishes, which preserve the delicate flavors. And, of course, you can use it to cook your latkes and other Hanukkah treats as well.
Best wishes for a wonderful Hanukkah. May the miracle of the oil inspire us to seek lives of health, longevity and many rich flavors.
Shalom,
Rabbi Doug Heifetz
