An Excerpt From
"When Should We Stop Hating?"
The OU's Pardes Project for Yom HaShoah

Points For Study:

What is the purpose of remembering evil?

1. Thirteen years have passed since the end of the destruction. Since then, a silence has fallen upon the world that no one cares to disturb. The wicked have succeeded in silencing the entire world from even mentioning the bloodshed they committed. Not only that, they have even managed to erase the memory from the hearts of Israel itself. This is not merely amnesia, but a profoundly cunning forgetfulness ... for the sake of a few pennies of restitution. Each day the issue is forgotten further. It would not be surprising if in our very lives, our children and grandchildren will altogether deny that it ever happened. "Perhaps they killed a thousand Jews by accident in the course of the war, and this foolish old man has confused a thousand with tens of thousands, confused adults with children, and an accident for intentional murder."

Rabbi Michoel Dov Weissmandel; Introduction Min Hametzar, 1958
Biography

2. "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt. How he met you on the way and cut down all the weak who straggled behind you, when you were weak and exhausted, and he did not fear G-d. Therefore, when the L-rd your G-d will relieve you of all your enemies around you, in the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven. Do not forget!"
Deuteronomy 25:17-19

3. "Remember what Amalek did to you"
To remember that which Amalek did to us, how he met us with evil. This commandment is meant for each and every age, to arouse the soul with words to combat him, and to summon human beings to hate him, so that the issue should not be forgotten, and that the hatred should not become weakened or lessened in their souls through the passage of time.
Maimonidies, Sefer HaMitzvoth 189
Biography

Nurture or Nature?

4. In every generation Amalek rises to destroy us, and each time he clothes himself in a different nation.
Me'am Loez; Devorim vol.3 p. 977

5. "The grandchildren [descendants] of Cicero studied Torah in Jerusalem, the grandchildren of Sancheriv taught Torah in public, the grandchildren of Haman studied Torah in Bnei Brak"
Talmud Sanhedrin 96b

6. The fact that the children of these wicked men converted to Judaism and taught Torah in public is an incredible thing. Understand, though, that individuals such as these, who are extremely wicked, have great power. Such great power must be derived from the supernal power of G-d, only in these men, it is impure. However, when their descendents convert, this power is purified. Therefore they were among the great teachers of Torah. It is impossible to be otherwise, for such great power must come from G-d, and therefore must have a kernel of holiness. Even though in the father the holiness was overwhelmed by the impurity, in the children, it can be purified.
Maharal, Netzach Yisrael
Biography

7. The quality of love that dwells in the souls of Tzadikim embraces the entire creation. Absolutely nothing is excluded ... no nation or language. Even Amalek is not meant to be wiped out except from "under the heaven." But with purification, he rises to the source of good which is above heaven, and everything is included in the supernal love. However, one needs great power and purity for this unique level.
Rabbi A.Y. Kook, Mussar Avicha
Biography

8. "You shall not abhor an Egyptian" ... even though they threw your children into the river (Rashi), even though according to common sense, you should hate them (Malbim) ... "because you were a stranger in his land" ...for good or for bad, you were with them a number of years (Pesikta Rabasai 12). "The children that are born to them shall enter the congregation of the L-rd in their third generation" (Deuteronomy 23:8-9). "The reason, in my opinion, is that the inclination of the father is implanted in the children until the third generation."
Divrei Shaul

Is revenge ever appropriate?

9. There is absolutely no question that people have ingrained tendencies that draw them toward good or evil behavior. These natural inclinations are passed on from father to son if the person does not overcome them. Thus, the Patriarchs avoided marrying Canaanite women who had an innate proclivity to evil. These evil traits are passed on to their offspring like a hereditary disease. This is because the commandments and transgressions of Torah have two effects, some leave a mark on both the body and soul, and some leave a mark only on the soul. The mark on the soul, though it may be very damaging, is not passed on to the children, because there is no familial connection between souls. However, those sins that scar both body and soul of necessity will corrupt the body and soul of one's descendents. These are the sins that are ingrained in the personality, such as hatred, jealousy, cruelty, slander, etc.
Deroshot HaRan, Derush 5, "Omar R. Yochanan"
Biography

10. The Torah must warn us in many places not to forget Amalek, because if it wasn't for these admonitions, even though he did evil to Israel, it would be a positive trait not to remember the old hatred, but only to do good to him. Thus, the Torah must warn us not to do so with Amalek, not to have compassion upon him.

Therefore my brothers, learn what is good, not to harbor hatred, rather to help one's enemy, which is only proper according to human values and the principles of the Torah. This is the pride of Israel, that they do not perpetuate hatred. Thus, their characters will be upright, that by disposition they will neither hate nor seek revenge.
Rabbi Yonasan Eibeshutz, Yaros Devash Drush 10
Biography

11. One of the things most desired by a person is to take vengeance on his enemies. Even though we have been strongly admonished against taking revenge, that is only toward our own people, as the verse says, "Thou shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people" (Leviticus 19:18). However, toward our enemies, the hope and delight of vengeance has not been denied us.
R. Azariah Figo, Binah l'Eitim Vol. 1, Derush 2 to Chanukah
Biography

12. However, if they accept upon themselves the seven Noachide commandments, they are no longer in the category . . . of Amalek, and are considered as proper Bnei Noach.
Kesef Mishnah, on the Mishnah Torah, Laws of Kings 6:4
Biography

13. There was an outlaw living in the neighborhood of Rabbi Meir who used to persecute him. Rabbi Meir wanted to pray that he should die. "What are you thinking?" his wife Bruria asked. "Because it is written, 'and all the wickedness shall be consumed from the earth' (Psalms 104:35). Is it written 'wicked'? The word 'wickedness' is written. Furthermore, look at the end of the verse, 'and the evil-doers will be no more.' Since wickedness will cease, then evildoers will be no more. You should pray that he repent." Rabbi Meir prayed for him, and he repented.
Brachos 10a

14. Bruria understood that there is no sinner in the entire world who would not choose the path of good over the path of evil, except that his evil inclination forces him and deceives him. Therefore, he is unfortunate that he goes in the way of evil. Still, there is no person who is entirely corrupt, and who would not be helped by proper education and wise admonition, whether a little or a lot.
Rav Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook; Ain HaAyeh, Brachos
Biography

15. As long as the annals of humanity cover the memory of the heroes of the sword with glory, as long as those that throttle and murder the happiness of mankind are not buried in oblivion, so long will each successive generation look up in worship to these "great ones" of violence and force, and their memory will awaken the desire to emulate these heroes, and acquire equal glory by equal violence and force.

Never forget your calling as Israel and your mission as Israel in the world. Never feel envious of the laurel wreaths which a deluded world weaves to crown the memory of successful victorious wreckers of human happiness. Never forget the tear-soaked soil out of which the laurel grew for such wreaths.

Forget this not, when you yourself have to suffer under Amalek's coarseness and power. Keep upright! Keep your humaneness and respect for that which is right even as your G-d has taught you. That is where the future lies, humaneness and justice will remain the victors over brutality and force, and you yourself are sent to proclaim that victory and that future by your fate and example, and to be a co-worker in bringing it about. Lo Tishkach. Forget it not, and so that you do not forget it, zachor, refresh from time to time your remembrance of Amalek and of that which is told you of its future.
Hirsch Commentary on Chumash, Exodus 17:14,
Deuteronomy 25:17
Biography

16. "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . . a time to love and a time to hate."
Ecclesiastics 3:1

• Foreword By Rabbi Eliezer Shore

• Afterword By Sam Orbaum
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