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Blotting Out Amalek
908. Blotting Out Amalek
March 1965
Why do we read the portion Zachor [Remember] on the Shabbat [Sabbath] before Purim? That is, we see that before Purim we must blot out Amalek. What does this imply to us?
It is known that the purpose of creation is to do good to His creations. However, in order not to have the bread of shame, we were given work in order to receive reward, so there would not be room for shame.
For this reason, we were given the evil inclination, called Amalek. During the work, it is impossible to grasp the taste of Torah and Mitzvot [commandments] because otherwise, this is not regarded as work. Hence, we must overcome the bad in us, regarded as the blotting out of Amalek, and then we can be rewarded with the light of redemption, as was then in the days of Mordechai, when they were rewarded with “observed and received.”
Our sages said, “They observed what they had already received. Thus far by force; henceforth willingly.” “By force” means compulsory, when one does something without pleasure from the act. He does it coercively, and this is called “by force,” when he forces himself to observe Torah and Mitzvot in a compulsory manner.
However, when subjugating Amalek, we are rewarded with tasting the flavor of Torah and Mitzvot, where there is the actual pleasure, as in “The nations are like a drop from a bucket,” meaning that in corporeality, there is nothing more than a drop of pleasure compared to a full bucket of pleasure. Naturally, he does it willingly because of the wonderful pleasure he finds in them.
This is the meaning of “‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart’—with both your inclinations, the good inclination and the evil inclination.” How can the evil inclination agree to observe Torah and Mitzvot? When it feels great pleasure in them, it agrees, as well.
Hence, in order to be rewarded with the light of redemption, we first need to engage in blotting out Amalek, and then we will be rewarded with redemption, as it was then, in the days of Mordechai and Ester.
Yet, with what can we blot out Amalek? Our sages said about this, “I have created the evil inclination; I have created the Torah as a spice.” Through the Torah, we can erase the bad.
But not everyone has the ability to engage in Torah. For this reason, we were given the matter of Issachar and Zebulun, namely the matter of supporters of the Torah and learners of the Torah, where by uniting into one man, they are all called “disciples.” Then, when all become one bundle, we will be able to blot out Amalek and be rewarded with redemption.