The Personal Amalek
Parshat Zachor describes how Amalek attacked the Jews who were on their way from Egypt to Israel. Reading Parshat Zachor reminds us of what Amalek did to us, and it also reminds us of the Divine commandment to destroy Amalek.
Our Sages tell us that we should read Parshat Zachor on the Shabbat before the holiday of Purim. This is significant, as Haman was a descendant of Amalek, and Purim celebrates the downfall of Haman and the nullification of his evil decree to destroy the Jews. However, the commandment to destroy Amalek applies to every Jew in every generation, because Amalek doesn't just pose a physical threat to the Jewish nation, but a spiritual one as well.
The battle against Amalek is an internal battle. In order to fulfill the mitzvot properly, one must do so with warmth, joy, and enthusiasm. Amalek symbolizes coldness, performing deeds simply out of habit, which can lead to doubt, G-d forbid. Our task is to do the mitzvot wholeheartedly, with joy and gratitude to G-d for giving us the opportunity to serve him. In this way, every one of us at every time is destroying Amalek.
The 13th of Adar, the day before Purim, is Taanis Ester, the Fast of Esther. The Rebbe speaks about a fast day as a day to emphasize the commandment to "Love your fellow man as yourself." This is carried out by one of the mitzvot of Purim, the mitzva of giving charity. The Rebbe goes on to further state clearly that Moshiach's arrival will be hastened by giving charity.
May we all have a joyous and festive Purim, and may all of our good deeds increase so that we may, as a nation, be elevated to the highest spiritual level, when Amalek will be completely obliterated and we will proceed to the Third Holy Temple.
