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Why did Hashem (ה׳) require Israel to physically fight Amalek, when He miraculously destroyed Egypt at the Red Sea without Jewish effort? Amalek's attack is unique—they had no rational motive, no land or resources to gain, only hatred. This irrational aggression creates a profound self-doubt in the Jewish psyche: "What is wrong with us?" The solution is not military victory but renewed commitment to Torah (תורה) study and prayer that validates Jewish existence.
Rabbi Zweig begins by analyzing the battle with Amalek in Parshas Beshalach, noting a fundamental shift in divine strategy. At the Red Sea, Hashem (ה׳) commanded the Jews not to fight—"Hashem will wage war for you, and you shall be silent." Yet immediately afterward, when Amalek attacked, Moshe instructed Yehoshua to choose soldiers and physically fight. Why did Hashem change His approach? If He could miraculously destroy the Egyptian empire, why not simply annihilate the relatively minor Amalekite threat? The answer lies in understanding Amalek's unique nature. Rashi (רש"י) explains that Amalek came to "cool down" Israel's reputation after the miraculous Red Sea crossing. They were willing to be destroyed themselves—only the weak survived because Hashem commanded Israel to leave them—just to damage the Jewish people's standing. Unlike Egypt, which fought for slaves and money, Amalek had no rational motive. They sought no territory, no resources, nothing to gain. Their sole purpose was to destroy Israel at any cost, even self-destruction.
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Shemos 17:8-16 (Parshas Beshalach)
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