This week’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh, aligns with the special reading for Shabbat Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance, which precedes the festival of Purim. This reading reminds us of the unrelenting enmity of Amalek and the divine command to wipe out its memory. It is a stark lesson in the dangers of forgetting history and the consequences of disobedience. As we reflect on these passages, we also see a deep connection to the ongoing struggles facing the people of Israel today.

In our Parashah, we read about the unique garments worn by the High Priest, specifically the breastplate of judgment, which carried the names of the twelve tribes of Israel over Aaron’s heart:

So Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the Holy Place, as a memorial before the LORD continually. And you shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the LORD; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually.
Exodus 28:29-30

This passage is deeply significant. It demonstrates that Israel is close to God’s heart at all times. The High Priest, serving as a representative before the Divine, carried the names of the tribes not on his arms or his shoulders, but over his heart, emphasizing God’s deep love and enduring connection to His people. Even in times of war and hardship, Israel remains before Him, their fate weighed and guided by divine judgment.

In our special reading from Deuteronomy, we are commanded:

Remember what Amalek did to you on the way when you came out of Egypt, how he confronted you on the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. So it shall come about, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to inherit, that you shall wipe out the mention of the name Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget.
Deuteronomy 25:17-19

The battle against Amalek is not merely a historical one—it is an ongoing struggle. In our Haftarah, 1 Samuel 15, God commands King Saul to fulfill this command and eliminate Amalek completely. However, Saul disobeys:

But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the more valuable animals, the lambs, and everything that was good, and were unwilling to destroy them completely; but everything despicable and weak, that they completely destroyed. 
1 Samuel 15:9

This failure to fully obey God’s command had lasting consequences. Centuries later, Haman—believed to be a descendant of Agag—arises in Persia with a genocidal plot against the Jewish people. This reminds us that what we leave unfinished today can come back to threaten us in the future.

The spirit of Amalek is still alive today. We see it in those who seek the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. The attacks against Israel—whether through terrorism, political delegitimization, or military aggression—are not merely geopolitical struggles; they are battles between those who fear God and those who do not. Just as Amalek targeted the weak and defenseless, today’s enemies of Israel do the same, attacking civilians, women, and children, hoping to break the spirit of a nation that God holds close to His heart.

But just as Amalek has never succeeded in erasing Israel, today’s enemies will also fail. God’s promise remains steadfast: Israel is engraved upon His heart, and His people will not be forsaken. However, the lesson from King Saul remains: half-obedience is still disobedience. Israel, and all who stand for truth, must not compromise in the face of evil.

As we approach Purim, we remember how Mordechai urged Queen Esther to rise up in courage:

For if you keep silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this? 
Esther 4:14

We, too, are living in such a time as this. We are not here by chance. Whether we are in Israel or among the nations, we are called to stand, to remember, and to act. Silence in the face of evil is not an option. Just as Aaron carried the judgment of Israel over his heart before God, we must carry Israel over our hearts in prayer, in advocacy, and in unwavering support.

Shabbat Shalom,
Moran