The Biblical injunction : “ timheh et zeikhar amalek mitahat ha ’ shamyim — blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven ” ( Deut . 21:9 ), commands us to remove all traces of antisemitism , seen or unseen . If we truly wish to rid the scourge of antisemitism , we must do more than remember ; we certainly must no longer forget . Lo Tishkhah – Do not forget ” we are instructed . Maimonides teaches : “‘ Remember what Amalek did to you ’ ( Deuteronomy 25:17 ). Perhaps only in your heart ? When it states , ‘ you shall not forget ,’ behold that is forgetting of the heart . So what do I establish [ with ]’" Remember ?’ That hatred for it be in your mouth .” ( Sefer HaMitzvot Positive Commandment 189.1 ) Zakhor and Lo Tishkhah together are calls to action , not passive memories .
Each of us must speak up whenever and wherever we encounter antisemitism . We must employ our voices and our energy to engage all of the diplomatic , legal , and societal weapons G-d and our leaders have provided to us . October 7 and its aftermath “ happened to people ”, as former Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt had previously reminded us . The slogan “ Never again ” was supposed to remind us , but we forgot . It will take more than just “ zakhor – remember ” to ensure that all traces of Amalek ’ s descendants have been removed from under heaven . Will we be up to the task ?
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