March 10, 2025|י' אדר ה' אלפים תשפ"ה Balancing Memory: Confronting Evil and Celebrating Redemption in Jewish Life By Rabbi Jonathan Muskat

There are two holidays in the Jewish calendar, Purim and Pesach, that are connected to historical events we are obligated to remember. Yet, the nature of these obligations is very different. Purim requires us to remember Amalek and the evil that sought to destroy us, while Pesach emphasizes remembering Yetziat Mitzrayim—our redemption from Egypt. These contrasting obligations guide us in balancing the need to confront evil with the imperative to celebrate redemption and goodness.

The Shabbat before Purim is a Shabbat of reminder. On this day, we fulfill the mitzvah of remembering how Amalek attacked us by reading Parshat Zachor. This annual obligation emphasizes vigilance against evil and the need to respond when we detect threats such as antisemitism or antizionism.

What’s interesting about the mitzvah of remembering Amalek is that the Gemara doesn’t discuss when and how often to fulfill it. The Chatam Sofer (Even Ha-Ezer 1:119) suggests that we must fulfill this mitzvah on an annual basis. He cites the Gemara in Brachot (58a), which explains that we recite a bracha of “mechayei ha-meitim” (“that God revives the dead”) if we haven’t seen a person in twelve months, asserting that certain memories are forgotten after twelve months. Therefore, we perpetuate the memory of Amalek at least once a year to ensure we don’t forget its message. This annual mitzvah reminds us to remain vigilant and prepared to confront evil when necessary.

At times, the mitzvah to remember Amalek teaches us that it is appropriate to model Yaakov Avinu as described by Yitzchak: “Ha-kol kol Yaakov v’ha’yadayim y’dei Esav” (“The voice is the voice of Yaakov, and the hands are the hands of Esav”). Having the voice and conscience of Yaakov does not preclude us from, at times, donning the violent hands of Esav when there is a noble purpose. Rooting out evil is a noble purpose, and there is a mitzvah once a year to remind us that sometimes violence and destruction are not only permitted but are a halachic imperative.

However, there is also a broader discussion about how often we must remind ourselves of the Amalek story. While our practice is to recall the story annually, the Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah #603) suggests that it could be fulfilled once every two or three years. On the other hand, the Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot, mitzvat asei 189) classifies it as a mitzvah temidit, a mitzvah that must be fulfilled regularly. This annual practice serves as a moment to reflect on the evil in the world while contrasting it with another mitzvah of memory—Yetziat Mitzrayim.

Each and every day, we recite Kriat Shema twice, once in the morning and once in the evening. In doing so, we fulfill the mitzvah of “למען תזכור את יום צאתך מארץ מצרים כל ימי חייך” (“That you may remember the day of your exodus from Egypt all the days of your life”). Remembering Amalek is an annual obligation, while remembering Yetziat Mitzrayim is a daily obligation. We must appreciate this contrast and live our lives accordingly.

Amalek and Yetziat Mitzrayim convey different messages. Amalek tells us once a year to highlight the bad around us and to respond by destroying evil. Yetziat Mitzrayim tells us every day to highlight the good around us and to respond by bringing goodness into the world. The annual Amalek reminder keeps the evil of Amalek in the back of our minds, while the daily Yetziat Mitzrayim reminder keeps the values of Yetziat Mitzrayim—caring for the underprivileged, offering thanks to God for redemption, and living a mission-driven life—at the forefront of our minds.

This stark contrast in frequency communicates a powerful message about how we should live. John Gottman coined the ideas of “positive sentiment override” and “negative sentiment override” in relationships. Positive sentiment override means viewing your partner and relationship through a positive lens. Negative sentiment override means seeing them through a negative lens. But this isn’t just about relationships; it’s about how we view life and the world around us. Is there good around us? Yes. Is there bad? Yes. The question is: what is our focus? Are we positive sentiment override people or negative sentiment override people?

The Torah’s answer is clear. We should be positive sentiment override people. We remind ourselves about Amalek and the destruction of evil once a year, but we remind ourselves about Yetziat Mitzrayim and faith and kindness every day.

It is no coincidence that Purim follows immediately after the annual mitzvah to remember Amalek. This juxtaposition highlights the contrast between focusing on evil and celebrating positivity. Purim, while connected to Amalek through Haman’s lineage, emphasizes extreme positivity. We celebrate a miracle through public readings of the Megillah. Even though the miracle left us still in exile and under Achashverosh’s rule, we highlight only the positive. We deepen friendships through mishloach manot and engage in acts of kindness through matanot la’evyonim. Six days after thinking about antisemitism, we engage in acts of extreme gratitude, friendship, and charity.

Each of us has a choice. How will we approach life? Will we focus on Amalek for one day or every day? Will we live with negative sentiment override or positive sentiment override? Yes, we can focus on the bad in our communities, society, and the State of Israel and be pessimistic about the future. Or, we can focus on the good and live as optimistic, mission-driven people, striving to make the world a better place every single day.