Parashat Tetzaveh (Command) Exodus 27:20 - 30:10
2nd Torah Deuteronomy 25:17- 19
HafTorah - Samuel *15:1 - 34
Dear friends,
I'd like to start this weekly message with a shout out and thanks to all who helped make the last Shabbat such a wonderful occasion. We celebrated Shabbat Shekalim/Rosh Chodesh together with our largest and most diverse attendance of the year. I couldn't have asked for a more satisfying Bar Mitzvah anniversary and for my wife Chris's birthday. And thanks to all that made our celebratory luncheon so special and delicious, including the fantastic gluten free cake baked by Megan Hochstadt.
Tempering our joy, we learned that Megan's father died in an auto accident this week. We send her and her entire family our condolences during this sad time and beyond.
This Shabbat we turn our attention to the preparations for the holiday of Purim which is now upon us. We begin with Shabbat Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance when we read the short passage in Deuteronomy (Devarim) 25:17-19 which commands us to remember Amalek, i.e. remember evil, to blot it out and keep it from ever occurring again. It is said that the wicked Hamen who attempted unsuccessfully to annihilate the large population of the Jews of Shushan, Persia was descended from Amalek and that all the purveyors of evil were likewise descended from him. Verse 19 states:
וְהָיָ֡ה בְּהָנִ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֣יךָ
׀
לְ֠ךָ֠ מִכׇּל־אֹ֨יְבֶ֜יךָ מִסָּבִ֗יב בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהֹוָה־אֱ֠לֹהֶ֠יךָ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֤ נַחֲלָה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃ {פ}
Therefore, when your God יהוה grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that your God יהוה is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
Our Haftorah from the Prophet Samuel is a most difficult one as he commands King Saul to annihilate the Amalekites. I have always had a great deal of difficulty justifying the killing of mostly innocent people and their livestock on account of their leaders' transgressions. However, by substituting the concept of "evil" for the human beings who commit despicable acts, I have been able to come to grips with the lessons that Samuel teaches in these passages.
We continue to prepare for Purim during the week ahead by fasting (either in body or in spirit) on Thursday during daylight hours. Called the Fast of Esther (תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵּר) this commemorates and honors the memory of Queen Esther as she prepared for her bold and risky meeting with King Achashverosh when she was to reveal her Hebrew heritage and the sinister plot of the wicked Haman who the King trusted to that point and thus save her brethren from certain carnage. She herself fasted and asked her fellow Jews to do the same for three days. We know the happy outcome and will celebrate Purim on Thursday evening beginning at 6:30 pm with a social hour where we enjoy each other's company and special holiday treats of Hamantaschen, ice cream sundaes and other goodies. Thanks Aileen, Mark, and Renir! Then at 7:30 pm, we will read the entire Book of Esther (Megillat Esther) alternating in Hebrew and in English. For those joining us on Zoom, you can find the text in numerous publications and on the Internet sites such as Esther 1 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre clicking on the chapter button on top to advance to the second and subsequent chapters.
So, please join us tonight at 7:30 pm, tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am, and on erev Purim (Thursday, March 13th) at 6:30 pm for our social hour and 7:30 pm for the Megillat Esther reading in person and/or virtually on Zoom. Shabbat Shalom and Chag
Purim Sameach!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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