Amalek as an Ideology
Our parshah ends with the mitzvah to erase the memory of Amalek. But today, we don’t know exactly who Amalek is. So how can we still fulfill this command?
Amalek wasn’t just a nation — they represented a dangerous way of thinking. They denied Hashem (God)’s involvement in the world and believed everything was just coincidence. The Torah hints at this when it says (Devarim 25:18), “Asher karchah baderech” — Amalek “chanced upon you on the way.” They saw life as random, without purpose or Divine guidance.
We see the same attitude in Haman, a descendant of Amalek. When things started to turn against him in the story of Purim, he told his family about everything that “happened” — as if it were all just bad luck. Chazal (our sages) teach that this mindset came straight from Amalek.
Erasing Amalek through Gratitude
So even though we don’t know who Amalek is physically, we can still fight against their ideology — the belief that Hashem is not involved in our lives. We do this by constantly recognizing and thanking Hashem for everything He gives us.
As Rabbi Eliyahu Baruch Finkel said: “Every time we thank Hashem, we are erasing Amalek.”
Every brachah (blessing), every time we say Baruch Hashem (Blessed be God), every moment we recognize Hashem’s kindness — we’re fulfilling this mitzvah. Even now, if we stop for a second and say, “Thank You, Hashem, for all You do for me,” we’ve taken a step toward erasing Amalek.
Returning with Love
Especially now, in the month of Elul, we can do this with even more meaning.
The pasuk (verse) says in Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs 6:3): “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li” — “I am for my Beloved, and my Beloved is for me.” Our chachamim (wise rabbis) teach that this verse hints to Elul — the month of return and closeness to Hashem.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein explains this beautifully: Some people think the best way to inspire teshuvah (repentence) is through fear — punishment and reward. But the highest level of teshuvah comes through love. When we open our eyes and see how much Hashem does for us, how much kindness He shows every day — how can we not feel love in return?
That’s ani ledodi — I choose to come close to Hashem. And then, dodi li — Hashem draws close to us. He pours down blessings, beyond what we deserve.
As our Sages teach: “Ahavah mekalkelet et hashurah” — Love goes beyond the regular rules. When we return to Hashem with love, even our mistakes can become zechuyot — merits.
A Horse off the Road, a Soul on the Way Home
Let’s end with a story from the Baal Shem Tov:
One night during Elul, the Baal Shem Tov visited a crowded inn where simple Jews were drinking and talking. He joined their conversation about horses.
“What’s the difference between a fast, well-trained horse and a slow, lazy one?” he asked.
They laughed, “It’s obvious! A fast horse is much more valuable.”
“But what if that fast horse strays off the road?” the Baal Shem Tov asked. “Won’t it get much farther off track?”
The room fell quiet.
“Yes,” he continued, “but because it’s so fast, it can return just as quickly. My dear brothers, you are all the children of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). You are holy souls. Even if you’ve strayed, you can return with great strength and speed. Hashem is waiting for you with open arms.”
This Elul, let us fulfill the mitzvah of erasing Amalek — not with swords, but with sincere words of gratitude, love, and return to Hashem.
By Rabbi Daniel Shasha, author of “Living Appreciation”
