Parashat Ki Tetze: Remembering What to Remember

 

Parashat Ki Tetze: Remembering What to Remember

Rabbi Ari Kahn

This week’s parasha is Ki Tetze. Of all the parshiot in the Torah, this one is among the most densely packed with mitzvot — commandments. But if we look closely, many of these mitzvot deal with what we might call imperfect situations.

They address people who aren’t necessarily the nicest. People guilty of abuse. People who malign others — verbally, physically, sexually. Rapists. People who cheat in business. And as uncomfortable as it may be, these people too are part of the Jewish people. They too need laws. There must be consequences for these actions, and society must know how to respond.

But I want to focus on the very end of the parasha — where the Torah revisits an episode from long ago: the battle against Amalek. We’re told to remember it.

We read Parashat Zachor: “Remember what Amalek did to you”.[1] But in order to remember what Amalek did, we first need to understand what it was they did.

On the surface, Amalek attacked us without provocation. But if we look deeper, we begin to see a motive. Amalek attacked because the Jewish people were on their way to the Land of Israel.

Amalek are descendants of Esav. And perhaps, even though they sold the birthright, they experienced seller’s regret. They gave up the responsibilities — including slavery in Egypt — but now they want the prize at the end: the Land of Israel.[2]

There’s another layer here, one that Rashi grapples with. When the Jews left Egypt, we’re told they were surrounded by divine clouds — clouds that protected them from the elements and presumably from enemies.[3] So how did Amalek succeed in attacking?

To answer that, we need to go back to Parashat Beshalach. The Jews cross the sea, and immediately there are complaints: the water isn’t drinkable. Then the food runs out. More complaints. Understandable, perhaps.

Then again, complaints about water. But this time, they question whether God is with them. And immediately after that, the Torah says: “And Amalek came”.[4]

Now back to Rashi’s comment in Ki Tetze: Amalek attacked those Jews who were thrust out from under the protective clouds — because of their behavior, their morals, their belief.[5]

Those who didn’t believe in the divine were not granted divine protection. And they became vulnerable. Amalek attacked them. Those were the people Amalek killed.

Which means the battle of Amalek — the one we’re told to remember — was a battle fought for those on the fringe. Not the most respected members of the community. Quite the opposite.

Today, we might call them “off the derekh.” Not mainstream. Not fully observant. Not fully accepted.

Those were the people Amalek succeeded in attacking. And those were the people we went to war to protect.

So when we’re told to remember Amalek, it’s not just about remembering the enemy. It’s about remembering the circumstances. Remembering how Jews were pushed to the margins. How they became vulnerable. How they became victims.

And it’s those victims we must protect. It’s those people on the fringe who may need our protection more than anyone else.

That’s what we’re supposed to remember. Remember Amalek. Remember the story. But more importantly — remember who we fought for.

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[1] Deuteronomy 25:17–19 — The commandment to remember what Amalek did.

[2] Genesis 36:12 — Amalek is a descendant of Esav through Eliphaz and Timna.

[3] Exodus 13:21–22 — Describes the divine cloud that guided and protected the Israelites.

[4] Exodus 17:7–8 — After the Israelites question God’s presence, Amalek attacks.

[5] Rashi on Deuteronomy 25:18 — Explains that Amalek attacked those who were expelled from the protective clouds due to their behavior and beliefs.