It's Definitely Not Just Amalek What Amalek did is recorded in the last nine p'sukim of Parshat B'shalach, and reiterated in the Zachor maftir from the end of Ki Teitzei. The command of TIMCHEH is considered by some to be a command to the Jewish People as a whole, while others consider it to be a command to each Jew - but as part of the whole. Actually going to war against the actual nation of Amalek is certainly part of this mitzva, but it isn't the whole story. It carries with it an ongoing element of wiping out the Amalek philosophy and way of life, regardless of a genealogical link to the original nation. So too for ZACHOR, and so too for the prohibition of forgetting. Different from the "seven nations", whom we were commanded to eradicate from Eretz Yisrael, we find only with Amalek that G-d and Israel both have perennial battles, throughout the generations. Our fight with Amalek began with the tension between Amalek's grandfather, Eisav, and our grandfather, Yaakov. Sources tell us that when Eisav realized he could not succeed in killing Yaakov, he instructed his grandson Amalek to take over the job. Unfortunately, Amalek responded to Eisav's challenge with gusto. And he seems to have recruited many others - not from Amalek - to join his ranks, throughout Jewish History. Back to the mitzvot. Zachor, per se, is fulfilled with the public reading of Parshat Zachor, specifically on the Shabbat before Purim. This not only connects Amalek to his descendant Haman, but it allows us to see a definition of Amalek attitude and behavior. Mordechai does not bow to Haman. Any cruel person overly filled with himself would just give the orders, "Off with his head" and be done with it. But others in the king's court told Haman that Mordechai's refusal to bow was because he was Jewish. This enraged Haman to the point that he was consumed with a desire to destroy every man, woman, and child in the nation of Mordechai. This is Amalek incarnate. Even if we say that Zachor is limited to the Amalek attack post-Exodus, the LO TISHKOCH, thou shalt not forget, must certainly be seen as including all the Amalek-type of anti-Semitism throughout the ages. And the command to fight against Amalek can also be seen as inclusive of much more than that particular nation. That idea would fit with the Torah's telling us that the war against Amalek is with G-d and with us, from one generation to the next. Remember Amalek... and keep an eye out for today's Amalek as well. [The Parshat T'tzaveh Homepage]
|
