Shabbat Zachor: “The Amalek in You”
- The Shabbat before Purim is a very important one. It allows us to fulfill the unique mitzvah, timcheh et zecher Amalek – “you shall
blot out the memory of Amalek.” The Torah tells us Amalek attacked the Israelites
“when they were faint and weary; and he feared not God.” He is considered the ancestor of Haman and thus
the connection to Purim.
Amalek, refers not just to the
tribe of the Amalekites and their descendants like Haman about whom we’ll read
on Purim. Amalek exists in all those who
act without respect for God and God’s people and God’s will.
While we don’t like to think of
it this way, the spirit of Amalek can even infect us, God forbid, Jews, who should
be the very people who know best to fear the influence of Amalek!
How is this? The Seer of Lublin, a Hasidic rabbi, points
out the following. He says, “A person
can be faint and weary because of the different afflictions and fasts he
imposes upon himself, and nevertheless not fear God.”
What we must remember, (when we
remember to blot out Amalek), is exactly this.
We must always have respect for
God and God’s will. And never become so
sure of ourselves that we know the answers behind what God wants. We must always be a little humble and a
little careful, and not let ourselves become too impressed with our own
goodness.
As the rabbis point out, Im lamadta Torah harbeh, al tachazek tovah
l’atzmecha, ki l’chach notzarta. “If
you’ve learned much Torah, don’t claim credit for yourself, because you were
created for this purpose.”
Constantly search yourself and
your actions so that you will be able to blot out any trace of Amalek’s nature
within yourself and be wholly dedicated to the service of God.