Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Yosef Shemtov
The Shabbat before Purim is called Shabbat Zachor because we read about the nation of Amalek who attacked Beni Israel when they came out of Egypt. The reason that we read it on this particular Shabbat is because Haman, who wanted to destroy Beni Israel, was a descendant of Amalek.
Every year we have an obligation to remind ourselves to erase the name of Amalek wherever they are. But what exactly does this mitzvah mean? How do we erase Amalek’s name today when we don’t know exactly who they are? How can we do this mitzvah practically?
Maybe we can accomplish this mitzvah if we understand what Amalek stands for and we destroy that ideology from ourselves.
Amalek believes there is no higher supervision from the Almighty. Everything is chance and coincidence. You can see this attitude when Haman casts a lotto to determine when to destroy Beni Israel. Hashem wants us to eradicate these kinds of thoughts from our minds and to know and believe that whatever happens to us individually or globally is a part of a master plan from Hashem.
On behalf of the kollel rabbis, I would like to wish you a very Happy Purim!
Rabbi Yosef Shemtov