This week we are supposed to remember Amalek, an extremely important reading. It’s so important to hear this portion about Amalek that Shulchan Aruch tell us that if we have to choose between hearing Parashat Amalek and Megillat Esther, we go hear Amalek because it’s from the Torah. All men should be in shul to hear Parashat Zachor and many ladies have the custom to hear it as well. What’s the message of Parashat zachor?
It says in Beshalach:
כאשר ירים משה ידו וגבר ישראל וכאשר יניח ידו וגבר עמלק
They went to war and when Moshe lifted his hands they won, and when he lowered his hands Amalek won.
This is a strange phenomena. Moshe is standing on top of the mountain, Bnei Yisrael is fighting in the valley below. When he lifts his hands they win, and when he lowers his hands they lose? Funny war strategy.
The Mishnah ראש השנה ג׳ח) )asks a question:
כי ידיו של משה עושות מלחמה או שוברות מלחמה?
Do Moshe’s hands win or lose the war?
This teaches us:
לומר לך: כל זמן שהיו ישראל מסתכלים כלפי מעלה כא ומשעבדין את לבם לאביהם שבשמים, היו מתגברים; ואם לאו, היו נופלין.
When they up to looked up at Moshe’s hands, and looked up to the heavens and subjugated their hearts to their Father in heaven Hashem, they won.
Why is this the way to fight Amalek ?
Because their whole approach is happenstance.
We read that
אשר קרך בדרך
Amalek came... the wording used is from the root of “happened” upon them on the way - like it was happenstance.
Amalek believe it was all luck. It wasn’t Hashem that took us out of Egypt, we got lucky, the tide was low..- They explained everything based on luck and nature. That’s their approach. Amalek is Anti-G-d.
That’s why we read that Hashem says, My throne is not complete, as long as these forces called Amalek say that it’s not G-d that controls the world.
You think the arrow hit because you had good aim? No! Watch the video. It was when you were praying that the arrow hit- when Moshe’s hands were up. It wasn’t your ability.
The way to fight Amalek is to not be fooled.
What wins wars and loses wars is based on connecting to our Father in heaven. G-d is watching over us.
When did Amalek attack? Rashi says when Bnei Yisrael asked
היש ה׳ בקרבינו אין אין
Is Hashem with us or not?
Rashi gives a beautiful mashal. It’s like a man carrying a son in his shoulders, giving him whatever he wants ... ice cream, a yo-yo anything. Then one time, the son asks for something but he doesn’t get it. As he’s on his father’s shoulders, he asks a passerby- where my father? Hashem says,
You’re on my shoulders- I’ve been taking care of you all the time. One minor hiccup and suddenly you ask where I am.
This is a fundamental. Even when it looks like G-d is not with us, He is.
There’s a secular poem called Footsteps in the Sand that echoes this concept.
There are two sets of footprints through the sand but in some difficult areas there’s only one set- One wonders why he was abandoned during those difficult times. But those are the times when you were being carried.
The lesson here is that G-d is always carrying us. Our job on Parashat Zachor is to remember this. Don’t listen to Amalek when he that says things are happenstance, that Hashem isn’t really holding you. Hashem is always carrying us.
Shabbat Shalom.