We fulfill this special mitzvah by reciting the passage containing the story with Amalek every year on the Shabbat before Purim. The reason why we read it specifically the Shabbat before Purim is because they are somewhat connected, as Haman was a descendant of Amalek.
This passage that we read contains two Mitzvot: A positive commandment to remember what the Amalekites have done, and a negative commandment not to forget. The Sifra explains that the meaning here is that one should not forget in his heart, and one should remember by verbally saying it.
There are three basic questions we have to ask ourselves regarding this mitzvah. First, what is the difference between Amalek and the rest of our enemies? Throughout all of history, there were many terrible, vicious nations that tried to wipe us out. Why are we specifically required to remember Amalek? Secondly, why is it so important to remember this thing specifically? Why is it not instead an obligation to remember the Beit HaMikdash, or the Luchot? Finally, how is it important for us to remember Amalek in our days, as we cannot identify who Amalek is after Sancheriv mixed all the nations?
The Torah tells us the reason for this Mitzvah. It says in the verse, “אשר קרך בדרך ויזנב בך כל הנחשלים אחריך ואתה עייף ויגע ולא ירא אלוהים.” The verse here says that Amalek’s sin was their taking advantage of Am Yisrael when they were most weak, and they started to attack the weaker amongst them, or to be exact, behind them, at the end of the group. Amalek was the first one to fight Am Yisrael after HaShem had taken them out of Egypt and split the sea for them. They were not swayed by Am Yisrael’s strong relationship with HaShem, despite the fact that the rest of the nations had seen their connection and had feared Am Yisrael because of it. This was a double crime, both against HaShem and Am Yisrael. They took advantage of Am Yisrael only because they were weak. This is antisemitism, just for the sake of antisemitism. Amalek’s view of the world is not based on what’s right and what’s wrong, but rather on who’s strong and who’s weak. This also explains why we also need to remember what they did, and not just wipe them out. In order for us to reach our goal, step by step, of our moral ideal of helping the weak, we must learn from the bad examples and our enemies what not to do, and how to be the opposite. This is why we are against specifically Amalek, because they represent destruction, chaos, and cruelty, with no regard for others. We don’t just remember Amalek, but also what they did, so we can work on ourselves to be the opposite, and bring light to the world.
Rav Soloveitchik says in the name of his father that the war against Amalek is in every generation, and it’s not against a certain race, but all those who embody this character trait. Any nation or group that declares, “לכו ונכחידם מגוי ולא יזכר שם ישראל עוד,” “Let us kill the Jews and nothing should remain of them,” they are automatically considered Amalek.
In the ‘30s and the ‘40s, the Nazis, led by Hitler, played the role of Amalek. They were representatives of Amalek. Also in our generation, with all the terrorism that afflicts our people, we see that they really fit the definition of Amalek. That’s why it’s so important and crucial to remember what Amalek did back then, and it is still very relevant to our days.
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Eliyahu Tal