Rabbi's Weekly Teaching
Parashat Ki Teitzei
Friday, September 9th, 2011
As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the horror of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, I am mindful of the Torah verse: "God is at war with Amalek for all generations."
According to rabbinic tradition, Amalek rises to attack the innocent in each generation, and it is our responsibility to ever be prepared and vigilant in effectively combating this terror.
In Deuteronomy chapter 25, Moses instructs us about Amalek and our need to commit Amalek's hateful actions to memory: "Remember what Amalek did to you on the road, on your way out of Egypt. That they encountered you on the way and cut off those lagging to your rear, when you were tired and exhausted; they did not fear God. Therefore . . . you must obliterate the memory of Amalek from under the heavens. Do not forget."
Amalek has become the religious metaphor for any individual, groups, or nations that turn their back on ethical monotheism in the desire to eliminate other nations who differ from them, or disagree with them. Amalek will use any methods to secure their ultimate goal. They will hide behind half-truths, doubts, and indecision. They will wait patiently in ambush; letting time pass, until more evil can be done, more chaos created, more lives destroyed.
A person who emulates Amalek preys upon the innocent and the naïve; they hope to ever increase the vulnerability of those they hate. So we are commanded by God to never forget the evil done, lest we become victims again.
In Torah, we are also told to "obliterate the memory" of Amalek, and thus, we are offered what seems on the surface to be an impossible dilemma. God and Moses frame the challenge for us: how can we manage to "obliterate the memory," and yet, simultaneously fulfill the divine commandment to "never forget?"
The answer of our tradition is that we cannot forget the evil that has been done, but at the same time, we must refuse to allow evil to paralyze our own ability to move forward, continuing as a people and as a holy nation to bring God's light into the world. We must hate the evil, but we must even more forcefully create, love, affirm, and empower the good.
Islamic fundamentalism has a terrible consequence, but so can Jewish, Christian, or any other variety of religious, secular or patriotic fundamentalism. While we must remain ever vigilant against the fundamentalism that lead to acts of destruction, and believe our enemies when they say they hate us and wish us to disappear; we must also forcefully pursue every opportunity to meaningfully engage in dialogue with individuals with whom we might disagree, but who also do not wish to see us disappear.
During that horrible day, September 11th, ten years ago, we saw the worst of humanity. But, ironically, we also saw some of humanity's most righteous behavior in the response to the attacks and in their aftermath. Faith - not just religious faith, but faith in humanity, and in the good that exists in every human being - brought consolation and hope to New York, Washington, DC, Shanksville, Pennsylvania and a nation that had been plunged into fear and despair. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, new conversations took place and new understandings were born out of old prejudices.
In the American Muslim world, I shared many forums in the aftermath with local Muslim leaders. The most striking line that my friend, Dr. Kareem Adeeb of the Stamford Islamic Center noted in our main sanctuary: "The terrorists did more than hijack those planes; they hijacked my religion."
We combat Amalek by distinguishing between those who really hate, and those who peacefully disagree. If we fail in vigilance; we sin. If we fail in tolerance; we sin. It's a difficult, narrow bridge to cross, but it remains our daily challenge.
As Rabbi Nachman of Bratislav teaches: All the world is a narrow bridge; but the important thing is to not be afraid. In bridging the distance between ourselves and those to whom we can turn in friendship and fellowship, cultivating loyalty to and respect for one another by lovingly acknowledging our differences and disagreements, we will rise fearlessly and full of hope to the challenge of defeating and disarming the Amaleks of our generation.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Mitch
A Prayer of Remembrance - 9/11/01
Lord,
Source of Life, Creator of all flesh,
From out of the depths we call unto you.
Protect us from the hand of all our enemies.
Comfort Your children who now stand alone
without parent or brother or sister or child.
Strengthen us to stand with those orphaned by this attack on our country.
This country, our country, shelter of peace to the downtrodden,
which has gathered in millions of the peoples of the world
stands as a beacon of light and justice,
but today is dimmed with horror and tragedy.
New York and Washington, shining cities,
Diminished like Jerusalem after the destruction of the holy Temple,
need Your comfort, and our aid;
help us to maintain our courage and our efforts to support our people.
Strengthen the hands of those who defend this country,
and those who try to maintain peace against these attacks.
Teach us to speak to our children
with love and support and courage and understanding,
for we are all fearful, although their fears may not be our fears.
Gain for us a heart of wisdom,
that we may act out of compassion and thoughtfulness,
and not out of anger or prejudice.
Accept with mercy our prayers for our country and
its government for its president, judges, officials and
institutions who faithfully toil for the good of our country.
May they, with Your guidance, lead us back to lives
of peace in a land we have come to love.
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