Rarely do we find a mitzvah in the Torah in which we are told not only to execute a certain deed, but never to forget that we are enjoined in this mitzvah. These mitzvos are zechiros mitzvos in which there is a specific duty to remember a specific occurrence. This act of perpetuating the occurrence will spur us to carry out a specific mitzvah or not to do a prohibited activity. For instance, we are enjoined to remember what Hashem did to Miriam HaNeviah, and how she was publicly censured for speaking ill of Moshe Rabbeinu. Although it was not actual slander, her questioning Moshe’s behavior vis-à-vis his wife was deemed inappropriate for an individual of her exemplary spiritual standing. As a result, we are admonished against the evils of lashon hora, slanderous speech.
Another example which truthfully has always bothered me is the mitzvah of remembering what our archenemy, Amalek, did to us when we left Egypt. We are to remember to blot out his name. Nowhere do we find a mitzvah to remember to destroy our enemy. Why is Amalek tied in with remembering? Concerning other mitzvos – we are either told to do or not to do, but never to remember to do. It is almost as if remembering is a critical component of the mitzvah.
Then I came across a beautiful homily by Horav Yehonasan Eibshitz, zl, which may be applied to illuminate this question. The Torah teaches that, when the Canaanim heard that Aharon HaKohen had died and that the protective barrier of the Ananei Ha’Kavod, Pillars of Cloud, had suddenly disappeared, the pagans felt it was a good time to engage the Jews in battle. Rashi informs us that actually it was not the Canaanim who attacked, but Amalek– speaking the language of Canaan. They dressed up like Amalek, fought like Amalek, but spoke like Canaan. One wonders why, after being bitterly defeated once, Amalek would return for a second portion of defeat. Apparently, it was the disappearance of the Ananei Ha’Kavod that gave them hope. Why? Furthermore, why did they speak the Canaani language?
Rav Yehonasan explains that, during the time spent in the wilderness under the protection of the Ananei Ha’Kavod, the Jewish People did not perform the “mitzvah” of Bris Milah, circumcision, because the Pillars of Cloud prevented the Ruach Tzefonis, North Wind, from blowing. The wind is necessary for the healing process, and without it, performing Bris Milah places the nimol, recipient of the circumcision, in mortal danger. Now that the Ananei Ha’Kavod were no longer here, the North Wind was free to blow. This meant that the Jewish People could now safely be circumcised. Amalek was waiting for this moment. He remembered only too well how Shimon and Levi, two young teenagers, were able to destroy a whole city while the men were recuperating from their circumcisions.
Amalek had not forgotten what Yaakov Avinu had done to his grandfather, Eisav. The grandson was a credit to his evil grandfather, and he was going to avenge his honor. Amalek would not forgive Yaakov from taking the brachos under what they felt was surreptitious methods. Yaakov was instructed by his mother, Rivkah Imeinu, to don Eisav’s hairy clothes and even mimic his voice, so that he would receive the blessings which were rightfully his. As with all nations/families, the ensuing generations did not necessarily maintain the same passion for the fight as did its original founders. Amalek feared that the inexplicable hatred he bore against the Jewish people would wane with time. To raise the passion for the war against the Jews, Amalek had his warriors act as Yaakov did: wear the clothes of Amalek, but speak like the Canaanim; act surreptitiously; act deviously. It is not that our Patriarch acted in this manner, it is this idea which Amalek inculcated in his people from the very beginning to increase their hatred of the Jews. This “method” of early childhood education has succeeded quite well in the Moslem communities, where anti-Semitism has become a critical part of their religion.
Having said this, let us digest the character of Amalek’s vilification of the Jew. He did not just hate – he perpetuated this hatred, by infusing the collective minds of his nation with a hatred of Yaakov. They were raised with the “bedtime” stories of Yaakov stealing their Zeidy Eisav’s blessing. Memory was a critical part of their upbringing. Therefore, when Hashem instructed Moshe that the Jewish People should “remember” what Amalek did to us and to expunge his name from beneath the Heavens, it was for good reason. It is not enough to merely destroy Amalek because of his attack against our nation. We must make him atone for nefarious use of the gift of memory. He remembered to hate; he infused his people with hate by causing them to remember an event which he knew would provoke them negatively. As he employed memory to destroy us, we will also remember to eradicate Amalek. Thus, memory is a vital component of the mitzvah, since it comes as middah k’neged middah, measure for measure, to punish Amalek for his sin against Hashem and His People.
