Rabbi Howard Morrison

This week's Parsha of Ki Tetze begins and ends with a confrontation with the enemy. The Torah lesson starts with "When you go out to battle against your enemy," and the portion ends with "Remember what Amalek did to you."

On the plain level, the Torah underscores the threat posed by an external physical enemy. The most heinous in Biblical times was Amalek, who threatened the Israelites soon after the Exodus from Egypt. Amalek is also recalled annually on the Shabbat prior to Purim and on Purim itself, as Haman was a descendant of Amalek.

In the homiletical tradition, especially for this season of the year, our ancestors interpreted the "Enemy" and "Amalek" as those negative forces found within ourselves, the internal foe. The month of Elul is a time for "Cheshbon Nefesh," an audit of the soul, so that we can enter the new year on a clean slate. Now is the time to look within and correct the faults we have made over the past year. 

Sadly, we the Jewish people continue to face the threats of external enemies, while we also have to pursue the threats of the enemy from within. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison