Haftora: Ko Amar Hashem. Say Av Harachamim (p. 191).

• Do not say Tzidkat'cha (p. 209).

Shabbat Adar Sheini 13, Parshat Zachor 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Vayikra, Shevi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 69-71. Tanya: So, too, money (p. 167)...or Prayer. (p. 169).

"Amalek came forth and fought with Israel at Refidim." [1]

"Refidim" implies "weakness of hands," Israel's neglect of Torah.

When Jews become weak in Torah - and Torah study is directed to fulfillment - then Amalek comes and cools the Jew's ardor.

"Amalek fought with Israel." The word "Israel" is an acronym in Hebrew for "there are 600,000 letters in the Torah"; (Every Jew has a letter in the Torah, and this is the reason for the universal Jewish custom of each person writing a letter in a Torah scroll. [2])

Amalek cools this sanctity of Torah.

The antidote for this is (Moshe's command to Yehoshua) "Choose men for us" [3] - Moshe's men, and "In every generation there is an extension of Moshe," [4] for in every generation there are the "heads of the thousands of Israel."

"And go forth and fight Amalek."

Note the verbs in singular form (addressing each individual), for Torah is eternal, equally relevant in every generation in every time and place. [5]

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Sh'mot 17:8.

2. (Back to text) Parenthetical observation in the original Hebrew text.

3. (Back to text) Ibid 17:9.

4. (Back to text) Tikunei Zohar 114a.

5. (Back to text) Torah is eternally relevant, and in every age the ("extension of") Moshe of that era commands each of us individually ("...verbs in singular...") to "go forth and fight Amalek."