As we encounter Purim, let us delve deeper into the unique spiritual and existential battle that the Jewish People must continue to wage against the philosophy of Amalek. Amalek first appeared on the scene when they attacked Klal Yisrael in the midbar, on their journey to Har Sinai. The most striking aspect of this attack was its timing.
Hashem had just performed the makkos and split the Yam Suf for the Jewish people—acts that had worldwide reverberations. The Jewish people were viewed as invincible and untouchable, and, exactly at this moment, Amalek chose to attack the Jewish people—undertaking a (practically) suicidal battle with zero provocation. What was their motivation to undertake such a mission? This question can be extended to the Purim story, as well. Haman—suddenly promoted to second-in-command—makes it his mission to wipe out the entire Jewish people. As a descendant of Amalek, he is clearly continuing their legacy of Jewish obliteration. Why is it that, throughout history, people have made it their singular focus to wipe out the Jewish people? And why is this the spiritual legacy of Amalek? In order to answer this question, we must examine the fundamental principles of Jewish belief—based on the 13 ikarei emunah (principles of faith)—delineated by the Rambam, in his commentary on perek Chelek in Sanhedrin.
Three Fundamental Principles
The first fundamental principle of Jewish belief is that Hashem is the Creator of the world. He is the Source of time, space and all of existence.
The second principle is that Hashem has a direct relationship with this physical world. This is the concept of hashgacha—that Hashem oversees and controls the events of this world.
The third fundamental principle is that there is a purpose to this world and our lives within it. There is not a single aspect of life that is random, rather each and every occurrence and interaction is part of an infinitely beautiful grand plan—a cosmic symphony—a masterpiece designed by Hashem.
While Amalek does not tend to focus on the first of these principles, their entire existence is devoted toward destroying the second and third of these principles. Amalek claims that although Hashem may exist, He has absolutely no connection to us or our world. Our lives are, therefore, meaningless, and this world is devoid of spirituality.
This destructive conviction is embodied in the pasuk describing Amalek’s attack on the Jewish people. As we read in Parshas Zachor, we must remember what Amalek did to us, “Asher korcha ba’derech—How they happened upon us while we were traveling,” (Devarim 25:18). The word “korcha” is peculiar, and Rashi, therefore, quotes three interpretations of this word, each fundamental and significant.
1. Randomness and Happenstance
The first explanation of the word “korcha” is based on its connection to the word “karah” (happenstance). This interpretation reflects Amalek’s claim that everything in this world is random and meaningless. There is no hashgacha, no divine providence. Anything that happens to you, whether bad or good, has no deeper meaning or significance behind it. Amalek implied that they just “happened” to be there with swords in hand, ready for battle; they simply “chanced” upon the Jewish people as they were on the way.
2. Keri: Spiritual Marriage
The second interpretation offered by Rashi connects the word “korcha” to “keri,” a concept linked to marital impurity. Judaism views marriage as a lofty mitzvah; the relationship between husband and wife holds incredible spiritual potential. The Ramban explains that the relationship between man and wife, ideally, reflects the relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people. It is a relationship of spiritual and existential oneness—where potential is developed and actualized.
Amalek, however, claims that marriage is no more than animalistic mating—a relationship devoid of higher meaning and spirituality. The name “Amalek” shares its root with the word “melikah,” which is the process of removing the head from the body of a bird before it is offered as a sacrifice. The head is the highest part of the body, representing the mind and the spiritual; the body is the lower part, representing the physical. Ideally, the two are harmoniously connected (and the head (spiritual) influences the outer expression of the body (physical)). Amalek attempts to disconnect the head from the body—to disconnect the spiritual (head) from the physical (body)—claiming that there is no spirituality within the physical world, no meaning and no connection to Hashem or anything higher.
3. Kor: Cooling the Flame
Rashi’s third explanation of the word “korcha” is based on a midrash that relates the word to “kor” (cold). The midrash describes the mashal of a boiling hot bath of water that nobody dares jump into for fear of being scalded. Along comes a man who boldly jumps into the boiling water, severely burning himself in the process. Although he burned himself, he had now cooled the water enough to allow others to follow suit and jump in as well.
This was what Amalek did, as the Jewish people traveled from Egypt to Har Sinai. After Hashem performed the 10 makkos and took the Jewish people out of Mitzrayim, Hashem’s providence was flamingly clear in the world. The nations of the world were ready to accept Hashem and His Torah, and they began flocking toward Har Sinai to join the Jewish people in accepting the Torah. (The Ramchal explains—at the end of Derech Hashem—that until the Torah was given, any nation could have joined Klal Yisrael. See Zevachim 116a.) The Jewish people were at the height of their success, about to receive the Torah and the other nations were ready to accept the Torah along with them. At this point, Amalek attacked the Jewish people, undertaking a nearly suicidal mission.
Although the Jewish people won, Amalek showed the other nations that the Jews were not as invincible as they seemed. They “jumped into the scalding bath,” i.e., attacked the Jewish people, and “cooled the waters,” i.e., showed the other nations that the Jewish people were vulnerable to attack.
A Timeless Battle
Amalek fights for a God-less reality, devoid of spirituality and meaning; a world of Haman, of doubt, where a gap exists between us and Hashem. Only when you look closer—deepening your gaze—do you see the deeper layer of reality, the transcendent root. Hashem is echad—one—and our goal is to see the spiritual oneness inherent within every event and object in this world. Amalek seeks to hide the truth, to disconnect us from our Source, and, thus, to strip all meaning from life. Only when we see past the surface—when we trace everything that happens in this world back to Hashem—our spiritual Source, will we ultimately defeat Amalek and all that they stand for.
Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is the author of the bestselling book, “The Journey to Your Ultimate Self,” which serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought. He is an educator and speaker who has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership. He is also the founder and CEO of Self-Mastery Academy, the transformative online self-development course based on the principles of high-performance psychology and Torah.
