It is almost Purim. It is almost time for our annual celebration of the miraculous survival of the Jewish people as the entire “known” world turned against us. That “almost” has reoccurred in history far too often, and many of us feel as if we are in the middle of the beginning of yet another one. That “almost” began, as we remind ourselves every year on the Shabbas before Purim, when the nation of Amalek stealthily moved in behind the weary yet exultant Bnei Yisrael.
This week, as we read parshas Zachor after the usual Torah
reading, it is important to contemplate this important word: Zachor. Why do we
make an extra reading of the section of the Torah describing these events? Yes,
obviously, because Hashem literally instructed us to remember what Amalek did
to us, but what are we actually supposed to focus on? We must remember the
choice Amalek made to fly in the face of Hashem’s obvious involvement. However,
we also have to remember that even though we were easily overpowered in the physical
sphere, Hashem protected us through Moshe, through the strength of the
spiritual over the random strength of the physical.
The importance of remembering Amalek is that we must
remember all of it: Their evil deeds,
Hashem’s protection, our dependence on Hashem, and, perhaps, most
significantly, the fact that we as a nation are absolutely not meant to see the
world as random, as lacking constant Divine intervention. We, as Jews, are
meant to recognize and thank Hashem for the mercy He put in the world. Indeed, Remembering
Amalek is one of six specific commandments to remember, and in all of them we can
demonstrate the significant divine rachamim as well the din.
In this week’s actual parsha, however, Hashem commands Moshe
to incorporate symbols of remembrance FOR Hashem. This week is Parshas Tetzaveh, the parsha in
which the Torah describes – in extreme detail – the clothing of the kohan gadol,
and therein it is written:
Attach the two stones to the shoulder-pieces of the
ephod, as stones for remembrance of the Israelite people, whose names Aaron
shall carry upon his two shoulder-pieces for remembrance before Hashem…. Aaron
shall carry the names of the sons of Israel on the breastpiece of decision over
his heart, when he enters the sanctuary, for remembrance before Hashem at all times (Shemos 28:12 and 29).
It is interesting to note that the two places where Aaron is
commanded to place the names of the Shevatim are on the shoulder-pieces and
over his heart. We think of the heart in association with affection, and it was
through the breastplate over the kohain gadol’s heart that Bnei Yisrael was able
to receive communication from Hashem. But why place the names of the Shevatim
on the shoulder pieces, on a spot often associated with bearing a burden?
Bnei Yisrael accepted upon themselves the Yoke of Torah out
of true reverence and love for Hashem. The Torah is wonderful, but the term
Yoke of Torah exists because it not only controls our lives, but it forces us,
in many ways, to work hard in this world – spiritually – just as Yaakov had to
fight to get to the level wherein he received the name Yisrael.
We are asked to Remember events such as the attack of Amalek
so that, looking at the full picture, we recognize Hashem’s true control over
the world, so that we remember that Hashem will save us even from the ultimate
evil. Hashem asks us to place stones of remembrance in the bigdei kahuna so
that when he sees the names of the twelve sons of Israel He will focus on the burden
we assumed and the heart with which we strive to connect. The commentator Haamek
Davar notes on Shemos 28:12: As a remembrance. In Tehillim (115:12) it
is written, “Hashem has remembered us; He will bless.” This teaches us that
when God ‘remembers’ the B’nei Yisrael it is in order to bless them.”
Hashem doesn’t need symbols to remember Bnei Yisrael, He
wants the symbols to be inspiration for us to know that Hashem sees us for who
we are, that Hashem remembers the foundation of our nation. And for that He
blesses us. But also, in commanding Moshe to create these objects of remembrance,
Hashem is, perhaps, indicating to Bnei Yisrael our best forms of advocacy: Remembering
who we are, where we came from, and what that means – that we, like our
ancestors, are avdei Hashem who work constantly to connect to Hashem.
I wish you all a meaningful Shabbas.
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