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How can the Torah (תורה) command the destruction of Amalek when genocide is considered a crime against humanity? The shiur develops that Amalek represents self-destructive evil—a nation existing solely to destroy others, willing to risk their own annihilation to harm the Jewish people. Such a nation forfeits its right to exist and cannot be controlled through normal deterrents.
This shiur confronts a fundamental moral challenge: how the Torah (תורה) can mandate the complete destruction of Amalek when modern ethics considers genocide a crime against humanity. Rabbi Zweig begins by noting that post-WWII international law established genocide as so fundamentally wrong that soldiers cannot claim they were "following orders" when committing such acts. Yet the Torah explicitly commands the eradication of Amalek—seemingly the very definition of genocide. The shiur explores two approaches to resolving this difficulty. According to the Rambam (רמב"ם), even Amalek must first be offered peace terms and the opportunity to accept the Seven Noahide Laws. Only if they refuse peaceful coexistence do we wage war against them. This transforms the mitzvah (מצוה) from destroying people to destroying evil—if Amalek accepts moral behavior, there is no obligation to destroy them. However, the Ravad disagrees, maintaining that Amalek alone among all nations is not offered this option, reinstating the original difficulty.
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Parshas Ki Seitzei 25:17-19
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