Remember, Do No Forget
Anti-Semitism is as old as the Jewish People.
This Shabbat there will be heard in every synagogue a special reading of the Torah describing the first attempt to annihilate Jewry. But there is more than history in this account of Amalek's vicious attack on our ancestors. There is a command to always remember the hatred expressed in that attack and to wipe out every trace of Amalek once we have the ability to do so.
Remembering what Amalek did is not only important as an assurance that we will not forget our mission to rid the world of this cancerous nation. It is also a reminder that the poisonous spirit of Amalek is to be found in all the nations that threaten the survival of our people. Our Sages tell us that when our ancestors became lax in their religious observance they became exposed to the danger of Amalek. This awareness of the connection between our spiritual state of being and our security should motivate everyone who wishes to see a secure Israel forever.
