Here is the key to the turn of events — the king grants permission for the Jews to defend themselves. (Click image to read more)
ESSAY: Standing Up For Ourselves (Parashat Zachor, Purim) Read More »
We, too, are given permission by the King of Kings to do the work of standing up for ourselves against internal — as well as external — attack. (Click image to read more)
MEDITATION: Standing Up For Ourselves (Parashat Zachor, Purim) Read More »
In this meditation, we imagine the war with Amalek with all its tenuousness and feel inside us the fear and hopelessness that come from a cruel unprovoked attack by the powerful upon the weak. We allow ourselves to feel that gnawing doubt that evil will triumph in relation to Amalek, and in relation to the
MEDITATION: Amalek, Ukraine, and Moshe’s Strong Arms of Faith (Parashat Zakhor) Read More »
This week I had the experience of doubt. I had to make a big decision, and I kept coming to a certain conclusion and then doubting it and questioning it, giving me a sinking, uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. But wait, the doubt kept saying. What if you are making a terrible
SHORT ESSAY: On Amalek and Doubt (Parashat Zakhor) Read More »
One of the primary characteristics of Amalek is that they attack hanekheshalim aharekha, “those who are weak in your rear.” They attack the weak and the vulnerable. We feel intuitively how wrong this is, and we understand that a society should be measured by how kindly it treats its weakest members. I want to take this
SHORT ESSAY: Amalek and Self Attack (Parashat Zakhor) Read More »