“Cool it Man”- Dealing with our Personal Amalek
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
In describing the Jewish people’s encounter with Amalek the Torah says; “Asher karcha b’derech”. Loosely translated it means that they “met you on the way”. If we take this to mean that they confronted us on our way through the desert the Torah should have used the word “pagah” which means met or “lacham” made war; why the word “karcha”? Rashi says that the word karcha means to cool off. It means that when the Jewish people left Mitzrayim the nations of the world were trembling after hearing about the miracles of the exodus and the crossing of the Yam Suf. No one dared to challenge the Jewish people. When nevertheless Amalek attacked he cooled off that fear, even though he was defeated.
The word karcha opens up the deeper meaning of this fateful encounter and teaches us what the real and lasting effect of Amalek was and is today in daily living. Amalek made us cold spiritually either through their unparalleled chutzpa or by their nonchalant approach to G-d and everything holy. They said, hey so what, so G-d made some miracles, what’s the big deal? After all He’s G-d and this is what He does. What else would you expect?
So why do we read this parsha every year? Because of that little voice within, that little Amalek that says ‘cool it’ don’t make such a big deal out of Judaism. It reminds us of that part within that isn’t moved to act, doubt’s Hashem and even asks; “Is Hashem really with me now in my present struggle?” “I try my best but does Hashem really care if I do yet another mitzvah?” “Does it REALLY make a difference?”
From this sentiment and these questions we slip further. It’s just the beginning of a domino effect, an entire cascade of weaknesses and defeats in the service of Hashem that we encounter as we proceed through our daily activities. In the background of our minds there remains a specific disconnect. We understand what’s good what’s right and true yet it doesn’t reach our hearts. We lack feeling. Amalek has cut off the connection as in the meaning of his name; ‘Am-malak’, malak means cut off. He cut the connection between the mind and the heart. When that happens we stop living according to our deepest beliefs.
So when does it end? How do we get out, reverse the trend and go in the opposite direction? By preparing for and celebrating Purim! About Purim it states; “V’kibel Ha’Yehudim” the Jewish people accepted that which they began to accept at Matan Torah. We renewed and refreshed our acceptance of Hashem, His Torah and our special relationship with Him through the fulfillment of Torah and mitzvos with our truest sincerity. On Purim we reached a level that was even greater than Matan Torah. We reached the level of ‘Ad d’lo yadah’ beyond intellect.
After Gimmel Tammuz many people have expressed to me their doubts about the Rebbe’s involvement in our lives. The post Gimmel Tammuz Amalek confronts us and makes us cold and questioning. It’s a domino effect. The coldness then translates into cold fabrengens and than cold mitzvos, just perfunctory and businesslike.
The following is a story told by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyomin Gordon A”H about my father and his son.
“My son Yossi and his wife Daniella were living in South Africa. They were challenged in their early marriage with their fertility.
Shortly before Rabbi Raichik passed away, or shortly before he got very ill, I was at a wedding at the Chabad House in Westwood. Rabbi Cunin called me over, and he said to me, “Rabbi Raichik’s brachos these days are very mekuyem, come get a bracha from Rabbi Raichik for your son.”
I walked over to Rabbi Raichik and he gave me a bracha. He said; “Your son Yossi should have children.” He said the bracha in a very strong language; “Zara chaya vekayamah, bshana zu mamash. (Actual living and lasting children in this year) ” A very powerful bracha.
I forgot about it.
A while later, six months later or so, my children Yossi and Danielle were going through a fertility procedure in South Africa. They called me and told me what’s happening and they asked me for support and so on. The call was on Erev Shabbos. On Shabbos morning I walked over to my Igros Kodesh, as I do from time to time. I randomly took out a volume and opened it up specifically with this issue in mind.
I was in total shock to see the first letter my eyes caught. It was a letter from the Rebbe, saying, “I received your pan through Rabbi Raichik,” (who had passed away by the then) “requesting a bracha for children. I hereby give you my bracha for zara chaya vekayamah. You should say kapitel chof, give tezedakah…”
I was blown away… This procedure brought about our grandson Menachem Mendel. It came from that experience (10 months later).
That was a pretty serious story? You know. It’s even true!”
The lesson we can take is that we have a choice to make. We can say ‘nice story’, be unaffected and then go on to the next thing or we can internalize what this really means. We can be affected and go on with inspiration and resolve to fight back, to respond to the voice and the message of Amalek with emunah and bitachon. Then we defeat Amalek through change and through positive action. The choice is ours.
A Good Shabbos and a Freilichin Purim!