Parasha Tetzaveh & Shabbat Zachor : Remember Amalek!

[muman613]

I did not realize that this Shabbat was Shabbat Zachor. This Shabbat was additionally important because we were able to perform the mitzvah of 'remembering Amalek' by hearing the maftir of todays Torah reading.

One of the reasons we read this now is because this coming week we celebrate Purim. It is known that Haman, the villain who wanted to exterminate the entire Jewish people, was an Amalekite. We learn that the spirit of Amalek is possessed by all who hate the Jewish people and would like to see them cease to exist as Hashems nation.

One interesting gematria is that the value of Amalek... Here is an example:

http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=zachor-rena

The Torah states, "Amalek is the 'rosh' of the nations." (Num. 24:20) Rashi explains "rosh" to mean the "first", as Amalek was the first nation to do battle with the Jews after they went out of Egypt. But Kabbalah explains "rosh" literally, as "head"; Amalek is the "head" of the evil nations in the world and supplanted the Primordial Snake, which first brought death and impurity into the world (Sharei Ora). It is this negative force which implants doubt and indecision in the minds of those who would serve G-d faithfully and without question. In fact, the Baal Shem Tov points out the numerical value of "Amalek" is "safek", Hebrew for "doubt".

It is the most severe kelipa and therefore must be absolutely vanquished in the time of the Redemption. As the Jewish king is ideally the embodiment of selflessness and accepting upon oneself the yoke of Heaven, he is the one uniquely able to vanquish Amalek, and indeed his own kingship is incomplete until then. (Adir Bamarom II 7, kings; see "Jewish Royalty")

http://www.dailyhalacha.com/m/parasha.aspx?id=345

Rashi comments that G-d sent Amalek against Beneh Yisrael in response to their questioning His providence. G-d essentially told the people, “I took you from Egypt, split the sea for you, drowned the Egyptians, provided you with daily manna – and you ask whether I am with you?” He sent Amalek so that the people will then have no choice but to look to Him for assistance. Indeed, the war against Amalek was a miraculous one, as Moshe stood atop the mountain overlooking the battlefield, and as long as he kept his hands high in the air, Beneh Yisrael were victorious. As long as they looked to the heavens, acknowledging G-d’s presence and His providence, they were granted victory.

The war against Amalek is the war against doubts and questions surrounding our belief in G-d. In fact, the numerical value of the word Amalek, 240, is the same as the numerical value of the word “Safek” – doubt. Amalek’s objective is to rattle our belief in G-d, to shake our Emuna (faith). And this is a goal that they continue to pursue even after their attack on Beneh Yisrael in the desert. We read in the Megila that when Mordechai saw Haman – a descendant of Amalek – he did not bow or even budge (“Lo Kam Ve’lo Za Mimenu” – 5:9). Mordechai did not simply refuse to bow; he remained completely motionless. He did not even entertain the notion of bowing, as he was firmly resolute in his faith. And this aroused Haman’s ire, and led him to seek to destroy the Jewish people. As a descendant of Amalek, Haman was committed to waging war against the faith of the Jews.

Here is Rabbi Winston tying together Purim, Shabbat Zachor, and Parasha Tetzaveh...

[muman613]

Here is Chabads explanation of Shabbat Zachor:


http://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/644313/jewish/Zachor.htm

Zachor

On the Shabbat before Purim, the holiday on which we celebrate the foiling of Haman the Amalekite's plot to destroy the Jewish people, the weekly Torah reading is supplemented with the Zachor ("Remember!") reading (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) in which we are commanded to remember the evil of Amalek and to eradicate it from the face of the earth.

When the Israelites left Egypt, no nation dared pick a fight with them. Who would start up with a people whose G‑d just smacked around the mighty Egypt with ten awesome plagues, and drowned the surviving few in the sea? Only Amalek, driven by profound hatred which defied logic, came to wage battle.

According to many Halachic authorities, there is a Biblical requirement for all men to hear the special Zachor reading.

The special Zachor haftorah (I Samuel 15:2-34) discusses G-d's command to King Saul to destroy the people of Amalek.

"Parshat Zachor" is the second of four special readings added during or immediately before the month of Adar (the other three being Shekalim, Parah and Hachodesh).

Click here for the Zachor Reading along with commentary and insights; click here for more on Amalek.

[muman613]

[muman613]