Ki Teitzei: A Jewel of Forgiveness

Right now, we are in the Hebrew month of Elul. Not only is it the month that precedes Rosh Hashanah, it also affords us an annual opportunity for introspection and reflection. Elul is a full month of 

preparation for the Days of Awe to come. At morning minyan, each day of the month, we blow the shofar, and we also add psalm 27, known as "the Psalm for the Season of Repentance." It is in the spirit of Elul that I would like to share with you an interesting debate that took place this week on my Facebook page, mainly dealing with the Holocaust and how we interact with it in our lives today.

It began with an interview. The actress Natalie Portman was quoted as saying that the Jewish community focuses too much on the Holocaust. I shared her comments, and I invited people to discuss their reactions. And boy, did they! Interestingly, I think our Torah portion this week engages us in almost the EXACT same conversation. 

Do we remember too much, or can we truly never allow ourselves to forget? In our parashah, Ki Teitzei, we read: "Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt; how he [the tribe] met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God.… Therefore it shall come about when Adonai, your God, has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which Adonai, your God, gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!" (Deut. 25:17-19) Elsewhere in the Bible, this charge is reiterated: NEVER forget! Amalek is an enemy of God and the Jewish people for ALL time! Period. End of story.

Rabbi Shai Held, in a wonderful Torah commentary on our portion, asks: "Why Amalek?" It's not like they were our only enemy. They were despicable, sure, but how about the Egyptians, who enslaved us for centuries? Or the Canaanites, Edomites, Ammonites, or Moabites? 

Why is Amalek singled out for such unrelenting hatred, and why are we asked to perpetuate that hatred for all generations, even if (and perhaps especially when) we don't personally feel that anger and vengefulness today? This, of course, brings me back to my original point about Natalie Portman's statements. Can we, who live in the third and fourth  (and will eventually be in the fifth, sixth, and twelfth) generations after the Holocaust, be expected to hate as much as our ancestors did? Should we be comparing any and all signs of potential anti-Semitism to Berlin in 1939, in order to win arguments? Should we boycott Germany, Italy, and Japan, and all their products, as a lasting punishment for their roles in the Holocaust, and refuse to move beyond? I want to urge us all to think long and hard about this, because to me, the question at the core of this issue is: When will the hatred begin to consume us?

Every year, in this month of Elul, I receive daily e-mails called "Jewels of Elul," that contain reflections from a wide range of authors, all revolving around a central holiday-related theme. Earlier this week, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Toronto-based professor whose children were killed by Israeli rockets, wrote an incredible "jewel" about forgiveness. 

One point she made, that was SO powerful for me, was about how forgiveness is for ourselves, not the one we're (supposedly) forgiving. "When you forgive someone, you forgive and value yourself," she writes. "Indeed, forgiveness opens the door to a future that will not repeat the old tragedies." I'm not suggesting we forgive Nazis. Not by any means. To me, Amalek represents the force of evil that DOES still exist in the world, and the Torah is reminding us - demanding of us - that we remain vigilant against evil. Let's not be naive. BUT, we have to walk the fine line between vigilance and hate. The ancient Amalekites are long gone... but we are still here. We must find room for forgiveness in our hearts, because otherwise we will be destroyed by it. Utterly destroyed.

It's confusing, I know. Who are we supposed to forgive? How can we honor the memories of our ancestors if we also need to let go of something? The forgiveness doesn't even need to have a recipient. It's not for THEM. It's for me. And it's for you. Because hatred consumes and poisons. In this month of Elul, focus on forgiveness; focus on letting go and allowing yourself to forgive. It will open new doors and allow for greater healing. I think it's time to find your way into the season.

Photos in this blog post:
1. CC image courtesy of Chadica on Wikimedia Commons
2. CC image of Poussin's "The Victory of Joshua over the Amalekites" courtesy of Jan Arkesteijn on Wikimedia Commons
3. CC image of Natalie Portman courtesy of Georges Biard on Wikimedia Commons
4. CC image courtesy of Grant Barclay on Wikimedia Commons