The Shabbat that precedes Purim is called Shabbat Zakhor (=Remember!). Two Tora scrolls are taken out: one for reading the weekly Parasha, in this case, testave, and the other one for reading a special Maftir in Debarim 25:17. “Remember what Amaleq did to you when you were leaving Egypt… how he attacked all those defenseless…and did not fear God”.
When we departed from Egypt, the people of Amaleq attacked us. It was an attack completely unprovoked, without reason or motive. Israel was in no way threatening Amaleq or its territory. The reasons for Amaleq attacking the Jews were, to use a modern term, “ideological”, “ethnical”. Amaleq hates the Jewish people and what Israel, the chosen people, represents.
Why Amaleq is a different and unique enemy of the Jewish people? We were at war with many nations. Sometimes it was a dispute over a territory, taxation (Babel vs. Egypt), or even religion (Greeks, Makkabbim). But with Amaleq it was different. Amaleq hatred for the Jews was and is “unconditional”.
Thus, Amaleq and its “ideological” descendants (known as “zekher ‘amaleq”) can be identified by the following characteristics:
1. Amaleq’s hatred toward the Jews is not motivated by territorial claims, revenge or feeling threatened. It is pure and obsessive hatred toward the Jewish people (Think about Iran, who vouched to wipe Israel off the map: Israel is not a threat to Iran, Israel and Iran do not share any geographical borders, there are not disputed territories, etc.)
2. Amaleq will attack and try to kill defenseless Jews, civilians, women and children (remember the kindergarten in maalot? Or the murder of the Fogel family in Itamar?) . And if it cannot kill Jews, at least would try to harm them (think about BDS).
3. Amaleq would be willing to practice martyrdom (self immolation, suicide attacks,etc.) just to eliminate a Jew. Amaleq’s hatred for the Jews supersedes the love for their people: for themselves or even for their own children. (Think about Hamas indoctrinating the Palestinian children to become suicide bombers).
4. Amaleq might hate other people temporarily, but its relentless obsession is against the Jews.
5. The most important and practical point to bear in mind is that it is not possible to negotiate with Amaleq. Because Amaleq will not be satisfied with land, money or even with us changing our religion. Amaleq wants us to disappear, period. Israeli politicians are divided on this precise point: every Jew desires to live in peace. Some believe that you can negotiate with the Palestinians. Others believe that, like Amaleq, they will not stop attacking us once they have their own state.
6. Amaleq, unfortunately, won’t go away. For many Jews, especially for those who are not familiar with the concept of Amaleq, it is extremely difficult to recognize and acknowledge the true nature of Amaleq. And because Amaleq’s behavior is beyond rationality, educated but naive people will always think that something “rational” must be motivating Amaleq’s hatred of the Jews: the poor Amaleq guys are discriminated by others or losers, and this is why they would randomly attack Kosher supermarkets in Paris. These naive observers would believe, therefore, that there must be something wrong with what the Jews are doing, for example: new settlements in Jerusalem, for which they deserve Amaleq’s animosity.
The Tora urges us not to forget Amaleq and be aware of its true nature, because our very survival depends on this awareness.
Our Hakhamim prescribed that the public reading of the text of Amaleq should take place on the Shabbat preceding Purim. Haman was the first descendent of Amaleq who sought to wipe the people of Israel off the map. Thus, they hinted that our survival depends on us not being naive about Amaleq’s true nature and intentions.
Parashat Zakhor has the special status of being a Biblical text which’s reading is a direct Tora commandment. Women are also obligated to attend Synagogue and listen to Parashat Zakhor.
