Is Congealed Olive Oil Considered a Hiddur Mitzvah? Regarding the Lighting of Chanukah Candles

Shalom Honorable Rabbi, Today in markets there are packages of congealed olive oil sold according to the number of candles for all days of Chanukah. I've heard several Torah scholars who have questioned this. Is there indeed a problem with lighting these candles during Chanukah?

First, I'll preface with the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch (Section 673) regarding Chanukah candles, that all oils are kosher for lighting Chanukah candles, but it's preferable to light with olive oil, because that's what was used in the Temple menorah, where the miracle occurred. If one doesn't have olive oil, they should light with other oils, and it's permissible to light with wax candles. Nevertheless, it's proper and correct to light with oil, even if not olive oil, rather than with wax, since the miracle in the Temple menorah occurred with oil, especially since the oils available today burn clearly and beautifully.    

As you mentioned, in recent years they've invented congealed oil, which becomes clear after lighting, and contemporary poskim have discussed it: Some have questioned whether it's considered enhanced, for several reasons:

1. The halacha for Chanukah is that 'the act of lighting fulfills the mitzvah' and at the time of lighting, for the superior fulfillment of the mitzvah, all the oil should be suitable for lighting, meaning liquid oil, but here it's congealed and not suitable.

2. Chanukah candles require olive oil for the superior fulfillment of the mitzvah, similar to the Temple, but here at the time of lighting it's still congealed and considered food, not having the status of oil at all.

3. In the Mishnah (Chapter 3) in Tractate Taharot, it's explained that congealed oil is considered a new entity, and even if the oil was impure it becomes purified through this process. Therefore, even if after lighting it melts again, one might say it doesn't return to its kosher and enhanced status.

4. The congealed oil isn't pure, as it's only made congealed by adding a substance that causes this and isn't similar to the oil used to light in the Temple.

It should be noted that all the above reasons are valid only regarding the enhancement of the mitzvah, as it's not similar to lighting with regular olive oil, but certainly according to basic law, even according to those who hold this view, one fulfills their obligation even with congealed olive oil(Responsa Teshuvot V'Hanhagot Part 3, Section 218).

On the other hand, in Responsa Shevet HaLevi (Part 9, Section 143), Rabbi Shmuel HaLevi Wosner wrote that while congealed oil is invalid for lighting in the Temple since once congealed it loses its essence as oil, and in the Rambam (Chapter 1 of Food Impurity, Law 19) it's explained that congealed oil is neither food nor drink, but regarding the mitzvah of Chanukah candles one could say we have no grounds to disqualify it even from the status of enhanced candles since ultimately the flowing oil is what burns through the fire of lighting that melts it. Since it has the nature and quality of oil, it's preferable to other oils and wax as explained in the Talmud Tractate Shabbat (page 22) that olive oil burns clearly. And what the poskim wrote that it's not completely similar to the lighting of the menorah in the Temple - it's obvious that we don't make a complete identical comparison between Chanukah oil and Temple oil.

And one should remember the words of our Sages that one should be careful with the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles, for this mitzvah is extremely beloved, to publicize the miracle in thanksgiving to Hashem, and our Sages said that whoever fulfills this mitzvah properly merits to have children who are Torah scholars, as it is said, "For a mitzvah is a lamp and Torah is light" (Proverbs 6).       

In summary: Since today it's easy to obtain clear, non-congealed olive oil and even packages of clear, non-congealed olive oil (although it's proper for a person to personally engage and make effort in this precious mitzvah by preparing the wicks, etc.), it's preferable to purchase clear oil rather than congealed oil since many have questioned it regarding the enhancement of the mitzvah. Nevertheless, if one has already purchased it and cannot return the package or similar - it's clear and simple that according to the law one fulfills their obligation with this, and according to Rabbi Wosner there is also an enhancement of the mitzvah with these candles. 

Rabbi Shai Amar is a rabbi in the Halacha department of Hidabroot

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