In Parshat Ki Teitzei, the Torah gives us a crucial imperative: we must remember, and we must never forget. This instruction might seem redundant — after all, if you’re remembering, you’re not forgetting, and if you’re not forgetting, it’s because you’re remembering. Yet, the Torah emphasises this dual command: זכור — remember what the Amalekites did to you, and לא תשכח — do not forget!
To grasp the significance of this dual imperative, let’s look back at the book of Bereshit. There, we find Yosef imprisoned in Egypt. Although Pharaoh’s chief butler knew about Yosef’s plight, the Torah tells us ולא זכר שר המשקים את יוסף — Pharaoh’s chief butler did not remember Yosef. וישכחהו — and he forgot him. This teaches us an important lesson: when someone asks you to do something and you forget, it often means it wasn’t important enough for you to remember. In Yosef’s case, the suffering of an innocent Hebrew in a dungeon did not seem significant enough for Pharaoh’s butler to make an effort to remember.
Consequently, Yosef was forgotten.
Thus, the term זכור in the Torah signifies more than just remembering; it implies action. This understanding helps us appreciate the fourth of the Ten Commandments: זכור — remember Shabbat to keep it holy. The Talmud explains that we fulfil this commandment — זוכרהו על היין — by making Kiddush, and infusing the Shabbat with spirituality. By transforming a regular Saturday into a Shabbat.
Similarly, in the third paragraph of the Shema, the mitzvah of wearing Tzitzit is explained as למען תזכרו, which means “so that you shall remember to perform my commandments.” This act of wearing Tzitzit serves as a physical reminder to keep the commandments alive and present in our lives. Returning to Parshat Ki Teitzei, the imperative זכור underscores the importance of addressing the wrongs of the past. To ensure that the evil acts of history are not repeated, we must take proactive measures: build museums, observe a שבת זכור, give speeches, and educate others. We must understand why it took place, in order that, לא תשכח. Never again will it transpire as a result of us not forgetting.
So let’s also remember to pray for the return of our hostages, for all those who are sick and injured, for peace and calm as well as praying for our soldiers and emergency service personnel who risk their lives to defend and help us, as well as those who need healing, shidduchim, children or parnassah and may we be blessed to have just continuous joy and to only go from one simcha through to the next, the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, happy, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual and sweet Shabbat.
NUMBER OF MITZVOT: 74
MITZVOT ASEH: 27
MITZVOT LO TAASEH: 47
NUMBER OF PESUKIM: 110
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1582
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 5856
HAFTORA:
Yeshayahu 54:1-10 (רני עקרה) (this is the fifth of seven Haftorot, [the Seven Haftorot of Consolation] that precede Rosh Hashanah).
This week we study Chapters 1 and 2 of Pirkei Avot
