Parashas Ki Teitzei - A second chance available if need be.

This week's Dvar Torah has been sponsored for:
Aliya Neshama: Mindel Adina bas Rav Nosson Zvi
(If you would like to sponsor a Dvar Torah, feel free to email me: SharingTorah@gmail.com)
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In the very end of this week's parasha, there's a section we read twice a year. The first time is this week - Parashas Ki Teitzei, and the second time is the shabbos before Purim, Shabbos Zachor.

The Hebrew word for zachor means remembrance. The Torah says to remember what Amalek did to us on our way out of Egypt (immediately after the miracle of the splitting of the sea.) Nations everywhere were impressed by the Ten Plagues and the splitting of the sea. They were all scared to attack Bnei Yisroel, because "Hashem was on their (the Jews) side."

The Torah instructs us to keep the mitvah of remembering Amalek. Why Amalek as opposed to other nations? The answer is: it was davka the time after Hashem showed the whole world His strength and His love for the Jews - Amalek decided to attack.

Anyone who witnessed this miracle of Yam Suf would never have thought to fight with Bnei Yisroel because of the protection they had. Amalek, however, due to their atheist beliefs, did not see it as Hashem helping the Jews rather - they got lucky.

Rashi says, "They (Amalek) cooled you (Bnei Yisroel) off from your boiling heat (from being on fire.) For all the nations were afraid of waging war against you, until they commenced, preparing the way for others." All of the nations were afraid of the Jews - afraid of Hashem - until Amalek showed the world there was nothing to be afraid of (chas v'Shalom) and initiated the attacks. Therefore, we have a special mitzvah to remember what Amalek did.

This week, I heard unfortunate news that my friends (two brothers) were sitting shiva for the loss of their sister. [This dvar Torah is being written in zchus for her neshama (Mindel Adina bas Rav Nosson Zvi) to have an aliya.] It reminded me of a shuir I once heard. The rabbi explained why a person mourning for his parents sits for only one year and then the mourning period ends. The Gemara [1] says a person doesn't have a strong connection to the deceased in his heart after twelve months; "Ein Hameis Mishtakeach Min HaLev Ela Shnaim Aser Chodesh." (Obviously, the family member doesn't forget about the deceased, it's just the intense emotions wane.) There's another Gemara [2] that says, "Don't cry for a meis too much because Hashem asks, 'Who are you to mourn more than Me?'"

As I was listening to the shuir, I asked myself, "What's one to do by the parasha of remembering Amalek during a leap year? If it takes twelve months for something to be 'forgotten' (according to the lashon in the gemara) then how is it we can go thirteen months without 'remembering Amalek'?"

Then I remembered reading in halacha: On shabbos zachor, while hearing the parasha of Amalek, a person must have in mind the mitzvas assei to remember what Amalek did to us; however, if it happens to be that we weren't able to hear it then, we can make it up on Parashas Ki Teitzei. So the answer to my question was simple; we aren't going thirteen months without remembering Amalek, because we read it at least once more during the year. [As a side point - we also mention Amalek in Sefer Shemos, when they attacked us after the splitting of Yam Suf.] I later found out that the Chasam Sofer [3] said the same vort (Baruch sh'kavanti.)

We have a second chance to gain the mitzvas assei to 'Remember what Amalek did to us,' so don't lose out on this special opportunity.

Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso

[1] Berachos 58b7b
[2] Moed Katan 27b
[3] Piskei Teshuvos Siman 785:8 beshem Chasam Sofer