Parashat Tetzaveh 5783 – Shabbat Zachor

by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

This Shabbat is called Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat of Remembrance, which is always the Shabbat before Purim, because the Maftir portion, the final part of the Torah reading for this Shabbat, is taken from Deuteronomy 25:17-19, which discusses Amalek, who were Haman’s ancestors. The Maftir portion discusses Amalek, who attacked the Israelites, as they were leaving Egypt. The evil character in Megillat Esther, read on Purim, was Haman, who was a descendant of Amalek. The Maftir portion for Shabbat Zachor teaches that we should remember what Amalek did to us when we were leaving Egypt. We should not forget. I would assume that most of us want to be remembered as good people. What do you want your legacy to be ? What do you want to be remembered for? Let us be remembered for being strong and courageous women! Chazak v’Ematz – Be Strong and Courageous!