— Shabbat Zachor — The Shabbat of Remembrance
 On the Shabbat before Purim, Jews throughout the world will turn their attention to a special reading in the Book of Deuteronomy describing how the ancient nation of Amalek attacked our ancestors in the desert. Devarim 25:17-19: “Remember what Amalek did to you by the way, when you came forth out of Egypt. How he met you by the way, and struck at your rear, all who were feeble behind you, when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around, in the land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance to possess, that you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget it.”
Not only was the attack unprovoked, but it came at a time when the people were faint and weary. Shabbat Zachor - the Sabbath of Remembrance - is so named because we are commanded to remember the heinous deeds committed by Amalek. Our memories as victims of violence and persecution are a two-edged sword, though. We sometimes find many of our people who have accumulated emotions of hate and vengeance against whoever belongs to a nation or group which has hurt us. We sometimes hear cries such as 'Death to Arabs!' - expressions of anger, following murderous attacks. Feelings of rage and the desire for revenge are natural and understandable in moments of crisis, and one cannot be judged in his moment of anguish. But it seems that this mitzvah has a different meaning, because the Torah does not “command” us to feel that which is naturally felt. The Torah does not enjoin us to love our children, for example, we do that naturally. On the other hand, it does charge us to “love the stranger.” The Torah seems to command us to make every effort not to be contaminated by Amalek and the tendency to hurt the weak and helpless.
Our God asked us to “love our neighbor as ourselves” and to “love our enemies” but our mind, clouded by our sinful nature, cannot comprehend the magnitude of this commandment, thus at least we have to remember not to be like Amalek.