Keek Oil

Every Friday night we read the Mishnah ("Bameh Madlikin," the second chapter of tractate Shabbat) which enumerates those oils which are unsuitable for Sabbath lights as they are "not drawn to the wick," and do not light well. In the Talmud there is a discussion as to the identity of one of these ineligible oils, Keek oil:

"Samuel said: I asked all of the seafarers, and they told me that there is a certain bird in the faraway towns overseas called 'Keek.' Rabbi Yitzchak said: it is cottonseed oil. Raish Lakish said: it is oil from the Kikayon plant of Jonah." (Shabbat 21a)

According to Rav Kook, the sages were not just identifying some obscure oil, but in fact discussing what is the source of true happiness and success in life. The Sabbath is a day of introspection, a time to temporarily debark the fast-moving train of life and examine ourselves and our life goals. The Shabbat candles in particular are a source of illumination and "shalom bayit" — inner peace.

The oils and fats which feed the lights symbolize various forms of success and riches. Some oils burn more smoothly and produce greater light than others; so too, some types of success generate more inner joy and satisfaction. The Mishnah, then, is teaching us: Which riches are truly worthwhile? What is real success?

Three Types of False Success

The basic rule of the Mishnah is that oils which do not light well, which are not "drawn to the wick," are disqualified. In other words, goals which are extraneous, not intrinsically part of us, do not truly fulfill our needs and rejoice our spirits. Real success must be "drawn to the wick" – it must be integrally related to the soul and its spiritual goals.

The three explanations of Keek oil – an oil inappropriate for the Sabbath — reflect three types of artificial success. Samuel mentioned overseas towns in distant locales, far away from centers of Torah study and well-established communities. These places are destinations for merchants who seek wealth and money. And sailors, whom Samuel queried, are often individuals with low moral standards. Thus the Keek bird of the faraway towns represents those who chase after money and riches, at the expense of family and communal life, as well as their own ethical standards. This is the first false goal that should be rejected.

The second false goal is not wealth itself, but the vast mansions, parties, and other material pleasures that it can buy. Grapes — and their primary product, wine — symbolize joy. Festive occasions are inaugurated with a glass of wine. Cotton, on the other hand, symbolizes superficial happiness. The leaves of the cotton plant are similar to those on a grape-vine (in Hebrew, cotton is called "tzemer gefen" — 'grape-wool'). Like the grape, the cotton plant provides us with a very important product. However, the use of cotton is strictly external, to produce clothing to cover the body. Unlike true grapes, this 'cotton' joy does not reach the soul and does not rejoice the heart. So too, a person who concentrates on material pleasures will discover that, despite all his efforts, he does not attain true, inner happiness.

Raish Lakish points out a fundamental aspect which helps us distinguish between true and false success. What was the outstanding characteristic of Jonah's Kikayon plant? Its fleeting life-span — "in one night it appeared, and in one night it was gone" (Jonah 4:10). Any joy that lasts for only a short time, any happiness that is quickly forgotten, is not suitable for the intrinsic joy and permanent light of Shabbat. True, enduring happiness is achieved through exertion and purity — in Torah study, the support of Torah, and acts of kindness.

(adapted from Ein Eyah vol. III, pp. 55-6)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison