Defeating Amalek

“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way when you left Egypt” (Devarim 25:17). Amalek is the embodiment of evil in this world, the inventor of terrorism, attacking the weak and defenseless from behind—for no reason other than pure hatred.

The story of Amalek appears twice in the Chumash. In Parshat Beshalach, it forms part of the narrative of the journey from Egypt to Sinai. The description is historical and factual, describing how Moshe appointed Yehoshua as Chief of Staff of the army and how that army defeated Amalek. “And Yehoshua weakened Amalek and his nation with the sword” (Shemot 17:13).