Shabbat Zachor – Remembering Our Enemies!

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This past Shabbat (Parshat Tetzaveh), was referred to as Shabbat Zachor.

On this Shabbat, (the Shabbat immediately prior to Purim),we read Deuteronomy 25:17-19 from the Torah.

In this passage we are commanded to read the following page from the Torah::

Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you exited Mitzrayim. How they happened upon you on the way, how having no fear of HaShem, they cut off the stragglers among you which you were tired an weary. And it will be when HaShem your God has given you a time to rest from all your enemies all around, in the land which HaShem your God gives to you as an yerusha (inheritance) to possess it, you will erase the name of Amalek from under heaven. And you must not forget.

As we recite this passage in synagogue, I could not help but think about all of the conflicts and wars which Israel has fought against its enemies, the level of unabashed hatred we have experienced throughout our history, the unprecedented anti-semitism now sweeping the globe; and, the vile hatred and consternation against our people which was ignited on the infamous day of October 7th.

Immediately following the Torah reading of Zechor Amalek, (remember Amalek), a very dear and close friend and holocaust survivor approached me in the synagogue. He leaned over and whispered in my ear “Chaim, we don’t need to be reminded, about Amelak. I have been walking around with this reminder since I was a child when I was brutally and viciously torn from by dear mother’s arms at the entrance of Auschwitz. I only need to look at the tattooed number sketched deeply on the skin of my arm, to be reminded. These memories and the tatoo are way then enough”. 

I was so speechless, moved and taken aback, the only response I had was to stand up, shake his hand and give him a warm hug.

As we continued to daven (pray) , and throughout  that Shabbat afternoon, I could not help but continue to think about my friend’s whispered comments. I could not get his powerful words, and the imagery they projected out of my head.

As a result, I decided, as I am doing now, to jot down some of my thoughts in a blog…… knowing full well that the topic of Shabbat Zachor and the commandment  to remember Amalek would be a topic which will saturate blogs, social media feeds, opinion pieces and articles. I nevertheless,felt a burning desire and compelling  obligation to my dear holocaust survivor friend to share my thoughts in this blog. I also felt an obligation to the millions souls  who perished during the shoa, to those who fortunately survived the horrors of the holocaust and to the scores of innocent people who were massacred or maimed on that  very dark  morning October 7th.

In a very strange and odd way, I also owed it to inner conscious to fulfil the commandment of remembering Amalek and to erase his name from our midst..

There are many commentators, educators  and Rabbinic scholars who will opine that it is very difficult if not impossible to actually genetically trace Amalek, a descendant of Esau, to those who sought to annihilate us throughout history  – whether they be the likes of Hitler and his SS criminals,  the ugly and vile persecution of Jews by the crusaders or, more recently the horrific vile and unimaginable acts of cold-blooded killing and murder of our innocent brothers and sister by Hamas.

To be sure, these murderers and killing machines are often compared to Amkelak.

Far be it for me to attempt a hereditary lineage connection to these angels of death. But, one thing is for certain. As we continue to remember the acts of Amelak against the bnai yisrael, we cannot help but  remember and recall all of the other atrocities that our people experienced throughout generations.

According to the Torah, approximately 40 years after Amalek viciously attacked the b’nai yisrael, as they were resting from their long and arduous journey from Mitzraim,, the bnai yisrael stood ready to enter Eretz Yisrael at which point Moshe reminded them of the commandment to combat, destroy and eliminate  Amalek.

In the Torah we see two mitzvot regarding our enemy Amelak.

The first is to obliterate the nation Amalek  (timche et zecher Amalek); and the second is to never forget the evil deeds of Amalek (zechor al tishkach).

The implications clearly suggest that any relationship, connection or reference to Amalek must be erased permanently from our minds and lives.

Although it may have not been the original intent of this mitzvah and commandment (underscore “may), as achienu bnai yisrael, we must continue to apply and opine regarding this critically important mitzvah. We again can’t help but think and reflect upon the Amalekites of today. The vicious,vindictive, hate-filled  blood-thirsty anti-semites who are eager and willing to wipe us from the face of the earth

Friends, as I conclude this brief blog and as we fulfil the mitzvah to never ever forget Amalek, I respectfully  implore all of us to never forget the horrific atrocities of the holocaust and  October 7th; or the growing acts of  global anti-semitic violence spreading throughout  our streets and campuses.

“Remembering” is a most powerful human condition which helps guide us through anti- semitic insanity and prevents us from future peril,vulnerability, danger.

As we approach Chag Purim, let us hope and pray that our precious innocent hostages will released and returned immediately to our homeland,  Eretz Yisrael.

May achienu b’nai yisrael never ever experience the horrors of Amalek or October 7th; and may my dear holocaust survivor friend (who whispered in my ear on Shabbat) be assured that our people will never ever be subject to the atrocities which he, his family and millions of Jews experienced over the centuries.

Enough is enough!

With warm wishes for a Chag Purim Sameach  and Am Yisrael Chai !