Rabbi Howard Morrison

This coming Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor, the Sabbath of remembrance, which always precedes Purim. On it, we are commanded to remember what Amalek did to our ancestors in ancient times. On Shabbat morning, we read a passage from the Book of Devarim which opens with the words, "Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey after you left Egypt." We read a special Haftarah from the book of Samuel, which harkens back to Agag, King of Amalek. On the evening and morning of Purim, we chant the Book of Esther, in which we read about "Haman the Aggagite," Haman being an Amalekite descendent of King Agag. Also on Purim morning, we read the original incident of Amalek which is recounted at the end of Parshat B'Shallach.

This year, the name and history of Haman take on added significance. In English, the spellings of Haman and Hamas are almost identical. It is noteworthy that what Haman intended to do to the Jews of ancient Persia is the same form of evil that Hamas has done and continues to do with our brothers and sisters in Israel and in other parts of the world.

When we attend Purim services and make loud noise over the name of Haman, I encourage us also to have a contemporary form of Haman in mind - the evil terrorist group known as Hamas.

May our loud noise drown out and help lead to an eradication of Hamas, just as Haman and his followers were ultimately destroyed in ancient times.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Purim Sameach,
Rabbi Howard Morrison