זכור את אשר־עשה לך עמלק בדרך בצאתכם ממצרים
“Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, as you left Egypt” (Devorim 25:17)
This week’s parsha contains the piece that we read for Parshas Zochor where we are commanded to remember the episode of Amalek and the mitzvah to obliterate his remembrance. Rashi explains why this follows on from the obligation to ensure one has accurate weights and measures. “If you were dishonest with measures and weights then be worried about provocation by the enemy.”
Rav Chaim Kaufman asks how we can reconcile this with the Mechilta in Beshalach that tells us that Amalek attacked in Refidim: כיון שרפו ידיהם מדברי תורה – “because they weakened in divrei Torah”?
He explains based on Tosfos (Kiddushin 40b). The Gemara there tells us that when a person comes before the Heavenly Court he is first judged on divrei Torah. Tosfos asks a contradiction from Shabbos (31a) where the Gemara says that when one enters for judgement the first question asked is ‘were you honest and trustworthy in business?’ Only after that do they proceed to enquire ‘did you fix times for learning Torah?’ Tosfos explain that only with regard to the order of questions does integrity in business come first. However, when it comes to retribution then he is punished first for laxity in Torah.
That being the case then one is prompted to ask why not ask the first question about Torah? Rav Kaufman explains that the seforim bring a pasuk in Tehillim (19:9):פקודי ה' ישרים - “the orders of Hashem are upright”. If one occupies himself with Torah then it gives him a clear and straight mind and all his activities are conducted in a straight and just way. If, chas vesholom, he slackens off from Torah, then immediately his actions become crooked, and he will stumble with weights and measures and in business dealings with others.
Now we understand why the Heavenly Court asks first about honesty in business. If they see one has shortcomings in this area, then straight away he is judged for his Torah. It must have been his weakening in divrei Torah that resulted in him being nichshol [slipping-up] with his integrity in business.
This will also answer the two reasons brought for Amalek’s attack. The weakening in Torah by Refidim resulted in the use of dishonest practice in weights and measures, which left them open to punishment from Hashem in the form of a surprise attack from Amalek. (Ovi Mori shlita)
