For Parshas Zachor
What is Amalek?
— Amalek is evil without calculation, without reason.
Amalek had no reason whatsoever to fight Israel when they left Egypt. And why did he fight?!
— Because he is evil.
— He will not rest nor be quiet until he executes evil.
Evil, for its own sake!...
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Shmuel taunted Agag: "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women" (Haftarat Zachor, I Samuel 15:33).
What does the bereavement of mothers have to do with this here? Is the murder of the men not enough; is there a place to mention the bereavement of the women here...
To teach you!
When Hamas Amalek carries out his destruction, his aim is directed not only at the blood of his murdered victims, but, no less than that, to the agonizing thoughts of their mothers.
Hamas Amalek desires the bereavement of the mothers, just like the blood of their sons.
Terrible and horrifying.
And evil must be hated.
Thus ruled the Rambam [Maimonides] in Chapter 5 of Hilchot Melachim, Halacha 5:
"And similarly, it is a positive commandment to destroy the memory of Amalek, as it is stated 'You shall wipe out the memory of Amalek,' and it is a positive commandment to constantly remember his evil deeds and his ambushes in order to arouse enmity towards him, as it is stated 'Remember what Amalek did to you.' From the oral tradition they learned: 'Remember' - with the mouth; 'Do not forget' - in the heart, for it is forbidden to forget the enmity and hatred towards him."
— It is forbidden to forget the enmity and hatred towards him, therefore one must remember his evil deeds in order to arouse enmity towards him...
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In the verse there it is stated: "And Shmuel hewed [vayeshasef] Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal."
What is "hewed in pieces" [vayeshasef]?!
See the commentators and especially Rashi's commentary, that he cut him into four pieces!
But what does it matter to me if it is one piece or four pieces, is it merely a matter of degradation?...
The Ralbag indeed explained that the intention of 'hewed' [vayeshasef] is like a person splitting wood.
Apparently, it is an act of contempt...
But it is possible, that everything there is in this 'hewing' [shisuf], is 'evil' [cruelty].
Because one must behave with evil incarnate, according to its own measure. With Hamas Amalek, one must conduct oneself with a practice of 'evil'.
The hewing, is 'evil'. One must conduct oneself this way toward Hamas Amalek!
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But the main war against evil, is doing good. But good, without calculations.
— Good, for the sake of good.
This good, sweetens [mitigates] the evil.
Opposite the evil of Hamas Amalek, exists the holiday of Purim!
This is the divine service of the day of Purim, a service of good!
Good, for its own sake!!!
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"Lovers of the Lord, hate evil" (Psalms 97:10)
— Because the love of 'good', is essentially the eradication of evil!
— The love of good, especially the Supreme 'Good', the Infinite, is the doing of good at its absolute peak of overflow.
"The commandment of the fourteenth day for villagers and townspeople, and the fifteenth day for walled city dwellers, is that they be days of joy and sending portions of food to one another, and gifts to the poor, etc. How is this obligation [fulfilled]... And similarly, one is obligated to send two portions, etc., as it is stated 'and sending portions to one another,' and whoever increases his sending is praiseworthy. And if he has no one to exchange with, this one sends his meal to that one, and that one sends his meal to this one, in order to fulfill 'sending portions to one another.' And one is obligated to distribute to the poor on Purim; we do not turn away any poor person, etc., as it is stated 'and gifts to the poor,' etc., whoever extends his hand to take, we give to him. It is better for a person to increase gifts to the poor than to increase his own feast and Mishloach Manos, for there is no greater and more glorious joy than to gladden the heart of the poor, orphans, widows, and strangers, for one who gladdens these unfortunate souls is likened to the Divine Presence, as it is stated 'to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
(Rambam, Chapter 2 of Hilchot Megillah, Halacha 15 - 17)
We have a grasp and understanding of the mitzvah of Gifts to the Poor.
But what exactly is the mitzvah of sending portions to one another, especially if they simply exchange portions.
What fulfillment of the law is there, for no one profited from this, especially in an act that seems so artificial.
The Rambam writes that 'exchanging their meals' is 'in order to fulfill Mishloach Manos.'
But what kind of fulfillment is this? What does the Rambam mean when he says 'in order to fulfill sending portions to one another.'
— There is 'giving' here.
— Giving, is doing good!
— Friendship/camaraderie, is a good thing!
To increase friendship — is praiseworthy.
And on Purim, the mitzvah of the day is to do good.
Go out and learn what the Rambam taught us. That this is why the mitzvah of 'Gifts to the Poor' is more important than 'Mishloach Manos', because there is no greater and more glorious joy than gladdening the hearts of the poor, orphans, widows, and strangers.
Not only because you are filling their lack/need.
Indeed it is a great mitzvah in and of itself, but not a mitzvah of 'great and glorious joy.'
A great and glorious joy, is that which causes joy to the downtrodden.
Very wonderful!
And on Purim, the mitzvah is 'to do good.'
And you have no greater good than to increase joy for the poor!
This is the mitzvah of the day.
Doing good.
Thus one actually, practically fights against 'evil'! Against Hamas Amalek!
A joyful and joy-bringing Purim! [הגרבמ"א זצ"ל]
