Parshat Tetzaveh: Remembering the Light Within
This week's parashah /portion is tetzaveh ( Shemot / Exodus 27:20 – 30:10). In addition, this Shabbat , which falls just before the festival of Purim, is also called Shabbat Zakhor – the Sabbath of Remembrance. It takes its name from the special additional portion traditionally read from the Torah this week. This portion commands us " Zakhor /Remember what Amalek did to you on your way out from Egypt." Amalek has long been viewed as the archetypal eternal enemy of Israel. According to the narrative in Shemot / Exodus, the nation of Amalek attacked the Israelites while on their journey through the desert. Eventually, they were defeated, with the help of God, as well as Moses having his hands hands held up in the air. As long as they were being held up, the Israelites were victorious. If he were allowed to let them down, the tide would turn. This is read just prior to Purim because Haman,the villain of the Purim story found in the Biblical Book of Esther who tried...