Reading the Torah at the Kotel
Reading the Torah at the KotelThinkstock

Rabbi Sampson Raphael Hirsch asks the question why G-d Almighty did not destroy Amalek instantaneously as he had done to the Egyptian army at the Splitting of Yam Suf. Hashem in his infinite wisdom preferred instead that we actively wage war against Amalek from one generation to the next. The struggle against anti-Semitism requires continual vigilance.

Each generation is faced with Amalek. The Persians (modern day Iran) have been Amalek before. The reading of Megillat Esther is a rabbinic fulfillment of G-d's command "to remember what Amalek did to you, on the way when you were leaving Egypt...You shall not forget" (Beit HaYayin). Haman was a descendant of Amalek, as the Megilla makes perfectly clear. The Megilla was written with this foremost in mind.

If it had not been for Mordechai and Esther, Haman might well have gotten his way and destroyed the Jews. Haman was a sly devil, he was a political animal who had persuaded the King of Persia to agree with his nefarious plan. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today is no less clever and no less evil than Haman.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been Mordechai on this subject. The Republican Party in America recognizes that Ayatollah Khomenei is a Haman clone. Senator Schumer and Senator Menendez recognize this too. Hopefully, more Democrats will come around to a similar conclusion. Perhaps, even Congressman Jerry Nadler when reminded of the Purim Story will change his mind. I also recommend that he read the Parsha of Ki Tetzei over and over again. Perhaps, he will understand better the commandment to "Remember, and to not forget" that Amalek applies to Iran and its proxies today. Even Mordechai lamented the fact that there were Jews in his day who did not see Haman's evil and plan for "the Final Solution".

According to the Shelah the reason "to remember" and to "not forget" are both commanded by G-d, relates to two different conditions of the Jewish People. If Israel is as it is nowadays in a position of dominance with freedom to act then it must remember and wage war against Amalek.

It is only at a time when Israel is subjugated, then it at least must not forget. The Sefer HaChinuch states that we should be aware that G-d Almighty has hatred for whomever persecutes Israel, and the ultimate defeat of such enemies will be proportional to their malice and treachery. The commandment to both remember and to not forget is not just an exercise in vocalization.

Yes, one discharges one's Torah obligation by reading the passages about Amalek in Parshat Ki Tetzei annually (Parshat Zachor). However, as Mordechai understood, it is not just enough to read about Amalek but one must confront the Amalek presented in each and every generation. Megillat Easther recounts how Amalek was indeed confronted and defeated. It behooves us all to recognize the Amalek of our generation. If one fails to see Amalek in this generation then one has not fulfilled their true obligation "to remember and to not forget." The Prime Minister of Israel has been on top of this since the get go.

G-d will reward him for his incredible efforts. Mordechai was from the Tribe of Benjamin (they were not involved in the sale of Yosef) which was given by G-d Almighty the task of wiping out Amalek. The Prime Minister's name Benjamin is no mere coincidence. You too with G-d's help will succeed in bringing down Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and eradicating Iran's Nuclear Program. Shabbat Shalom