B"H

Friday, Adar 10, 5780 / March 5, 2020

This Shabbat, Parshat Tetzaveh, because it is the Shabbat before Purim, we read from two Torahs.

In the first Torah we read the weekly Parsha, Tetzaveh, which speaks about the garments that the Kohen (priest) and the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) whore during the service in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). It also tells the process of the dedication of the Mishkan. From the second Torah we read Parshat Zachor (Deut. 25:17). It is the second of the four special Torah readings at this time of year.

In the Parshat  Zachor reading the Torah states, "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt; how he met you on the way and cut down all the weak trailing behind you while you were weary and exhausted, and he did not fear G-d.  Therefore, when the L-rd your G-d will relieve you of all your enemies around you, in the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you as a heritage, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from beneath the heaven.  Do not forget!"

Q.What is the connection between Purim and Parshat Zachor – the commandment to remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people when leaving Egypt?

A.Haman, the villain in the story of Purim, who tried to destroy the entire Jewish nation, was a direct descendant of Amalek, who waged war against the Jewish people as they left Egypt on the way to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah.

Q.Why is the nation of Amalek singled out in the Torah when there were many other nations who waged war against the people of Israel?

A.Our sages explain this with a parable: A tub of water was so hot; everyone was too terrified to get close out of fear of getting burnt. Then one person decided to jump into the water. Although he got burnt and paid the consequences, yet, it diminished the fear of all other people and eventually they, too, tried to enter the tub. 

The same was with Amalek. The Torah tells us that when G-d took the children of Israel out of Egypt, "The nations heard about it and trembled; pangs of fear gripped the inhabitants of Phlistia; the chieftains of Edom were terrified; the mighty men of Moab were panic-stricken; all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away." (Exodus 15).

Amalek, like the man who jumped into the hot tub, was the first nation to wage war against the people of Israel after their Exodus.  Although they were defeated, the fear of the other nation was gone. All subsequent wars are, in a sense, a result of Amalek's war. This is why Amalek is singled out.

Reminder: Purim is Monday night & Tuesday. Check for the Megilah reading time in your synagogue.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 5:30 / Shabbat ends: 6:35