Fwd: Bostoner Torah Insights: Bostoner ‘Chassidus’ in Hebrew and English: Parshas Tetzaveh (Zachor) – 11 Adar 5786
Bostoner Torah Insights - Yerushalayim
Bostoner Torah Insights
Bostoner ‘Chassidus’ in English
Parshas Tetzaveh (Zachor) – 11 Adar 5786
Bostoner Rebbe shlit’a – Yerushalayim
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The Sefer HaChinuch lists as Mitzvah #603, 'To Recall What Amalek Did To Us'. The Sefer HaChinuch quotes from the Gemara (Megillah 18a) that the obligation not only involves a mental component of 'not forgetting', but requires a 'remembering' via a verbal response as well.
The Sefer HaChinuch suggests that there is no set time to fulfill this Mitzvah, as opposed to 'Remembering the Exodus from Egypt', which is fulfilled each day and night by reciting Kriyas Shema, as well as the additional requirement on the night of Pesach, during the Maggid section of the Pesach Seder. He suggests that one would only truly violate this Positive Mitzvah obligation by refraining from verbally reciting 'what Amalek did to Yisroel' over an entire lifetime.
However, the custom in Klal Yisroel has become to fulfill this Mitzvah each year through the public Torah reading of 'Parshas Zachor' on the Shabbos before Purim. There is also a daily custom to read 'Parshas Zachor' each morning along with five other daily 'remembrances'.
"Remember what Amalek did to you, on the way when you were leaving Egypt…It shall be that when Hashem Elokecha gives you rest from all your enemies all around, in the Land that Hashem Elokecha gives you as a permanent inheritance of land, you shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven; you shall not forget" (Devarim 25:17-19)
The Magen Avraham suggests that one could technically fulfill Mitzvah #603 as well through the Torah Reading on Purim day (Shemos 17:8-17), known as 'Parshas Amalek', which discusses the original battle between Yisroel and Amalek. The final three Pesukim state, "Hashem said to Moshe: Write this as a remembrance in the Book and relay it in the ears of Yehoshua that I shall surely erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens…Hashem maintains a war against Amalek from generation to generation" (17:15-17)
Why was the first reading, 'Parshas Zachor', chosen to be read the Shabbos before Purim, while the second reading, 'Parshas Amalek', chosen for Torah Reading on Purim morning?
From a purely technical perspective, 'Parshas Zachor' only has three Pesukim, while 'Parshas Amalek' has nine verses. Thus, 'Parshas Zachor' was chosen as the Maftir for Parshas Zachor, since only a minimum of three Pesukim is needed for an Aliyah, while 'Parshas Amalek' was used for the three Aliyos needed for the Torah reading on Purim morning. As it is, a complete Torah reading normally requires a minimum of ten Pesukim, but 'Parshas Amalek' on Purim morning is the exception to the rule (see Shulchan Aruch OC 137:1)
Alternatively, the Chinuch explains that logically we should have read 'Parshas Zachor' on Purim morning, however to emphasize that Mitzvah #603 was in effect before the Miracle of Purim occurred, we read Parshas Zachor on the Shabbos before Purim. The Mishnah Brurah (685:1) adds that reciting Parshas Zachor 'to remember Amalek' the Shabbos before 'implementing the Mitzvos' of Purim, is alluded to by the specific sequence recorded in the Megillah, "And these days shall be recalled and implemented in every generation (Esther 9:28), where the verbal remembrance comes before the active implementation.
Upon analyzing the two Torah passages of Parshas Amalek (Shemos 17:8-17) and Parshas Zachor (Devarim 25:17-19), one notices an apparent contradiction. Parshas Amalek seems to imply that it is Hashem's responsibility to wipe out Amalek, "Hashem said to Moshe…I shall surely erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens…Hashem maintains a war against Amalek from generation to generation".
Whereas, Parshas Zachor seems to indicate that the obligation to destroy Amalek in directed to Klal Yisroel, "It shall be that when Hashem Elokecha gives you rest from all your enemies…you shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven; you shall not forget".
One could suggest that both are true. Our obligation to destroy Amalek applies at a time when it is known who Amalek is, such as in era of King Shaul and Shmuel HaNavi (Shmuel I, 15:1-32), or Mordechai and Esther. However, when it is unclear who the true descendents of Amalek are, such as today, 'Hashem maintains a war against Amalek'. This is in accordance with the precept, "The hidden are for Hashem Elokeinu, but that which is revealed are for us and our children forever, to carry out all the words of the Torah" (Devarim 29:28)
May Klal Yisroel do their part so that Hashem will do his His part, so that we may bring about the Coming of the Go'el Tzedek and the Building of the Beis HaMikdash, speedily in our days.