Classic Concepts: The Torah tells us

The Torah tells us that as the Jewish people were leaving Mitzrayim, Amalek came and ‘met’ them. The term the Torah uses is קרך which can also mean ‘cold’. Amalek represents feelings of coldness towards Yiddishkeit and the spiritual war against Amalek is every single Jew’s attempt to overcome feelings of coldness with excitement, warmth and passion. Just as the obligation to destroy Amalek applies every single day, so too, it is insufficient to be satisfied with being passionate about Yiddishkeit in the past, rather one must constantly excite himself regarding spiritual matters. Before one goes out to spend the day in the ‘world’, he must ‘warm himself up’ through davening with excitement and fire. This warmth will give him the power to overcome the cold feelings that will try to overcome him throughout the day.

The Rebbe tells us

The Rebbe tells us that we must publicize the relevance and importance of the constant war with these cold ‘Amalek’ feelings. It is insufficient that a person’s father or grandfather was a passionate Jew. Even if the person himself had been previously excited about Yiddishkeit, that also is not enough. A person must constantly create a passion for Torah and Mitzvos, and through this he will be able to fight off the K’lipa of Amalek. Through this Avoda we will merit to fulfil the actual Mitzva of Destroying Amalek with the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.

Chai Elul

We currently find ourselves in the month of Elul when our main focus is the Avoda of T’shuva. The Frierdiker Rebbe said regarding Chai Elul, the 18th day of Elul, that it brings Chayus (life/excitement) into Elul. Even if one is doing the Avoda of Elul properly, with preparation and concentration, it still may be that he is doing it without excitement or ‘life’, therefore Chai Elul brings about that excitement.