Obviously, I have much to share from my trip to Israel. So much learning in a country deep in trauma and mourning; a longing for the return of every last hostage-felt so keenly as if one whole family. We also witnessed the inspirational work by activist Rabbis and colleagues there-from the services they lead to the peace work they commit to. Saturday evening I was at ‘Hostage Square’ for Havdalah with so many Israeli colleagues who lead in such a humane and hopeful way.
This weekend is Shabbat Zachor, named so as the Shabbat before the festival of Purim. We will read the book of Esther next week as is obligated on the festival. The book turns everything topsy turvy. The Persian Jews were due to be slaughtered and instead, they manage to do the slaughtering. Liberal Judaism banned this festival for much of the 20th century because of the violence described. On this Shabbat (preceding Purim) we are commanded to read from the book of Deuteronomy and the words about Amalek, the proverbial enemy of the Israelites.
“Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt. How, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear. Therefore, when the Eternal your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Eternal your God is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget”
These verses call us to remember moments of extreme vulnerability and hurt-Biblically and beyond. It doesn’t take much to recall 7th October 2023 as we do so. But it also calls for these memories to be renewed and sustained forever.
This can be tricky. Recalling, renewing and re-committing to anger and revenge is, or course, damaging, like taking poison and waiting for your enemy to die. We’ve seen how this can hurt. As a group of rabbis we experienced settler violence towards us fellow Jews. And the anger was shocking.
We were reminded of another event fuelled by righteous anger over 30 years ago that still has repercussions in the region. February 25 1994, which was also Purim, Dr. Baruch Goldstein, an extreme right ring settler, walked into a mosque, locked the door, dressed in his army reserve uniform, and killed 29 Muslim men and boys at prayer, injuring a further 150, and was then himself killed in the struggle to stop the shooting. The Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin and his government called it a terrible act of brutality-an insult to sensible Judaism and the whole Zionist enterprise. Despite this his grave has been treated as a shrine, even after it was explicitly forbidden do so. The language on the stone describes him as a holy martyr, who died for his people his Torah and his country in honour of God’s name. I have often thought of this event and his actions, but this was the first time I saw his grave. And was again reminded how ancient biblical texts can lead to chaos when read literally.
There is much we can do with this injunction to remember and hold on to pain. Amalek can remind us of hurt, fear and vulnerability, of course very familiar right now. But the verses can also challenge us in how we use them and the assumptions they can lead to. One Israeli Reform rabbi Dana Sharon explained, “So much and so many were taken from me on 7th October 2023. I will not allow my compassion and belief in humanity to be taken as well.”
It is a challenge indeed.
There is much to consider this Shabbat Zachor. I look forward to seeing you and marking Purim together next Friday 14th March.
Rebecca
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