The Torah introduces us to the evil of the generation of the flood and the generation of the dispersion.
Are we haters or lovers? For instance, why can’t we ever forgive Amalek? Hashem swore by His name an eternal war against Amalek and over the many generations, we are still fighting. King Shaul has battled with them as well as Mordechai and Esther against Haman. Many contend that Nazi Germany too, was a combat of Amalek. Our Torah teaches us to be kind and compassionate and yet in respect to Amalek there is a mitzvah to kill the men, women and children. It seems to go against the very essence of Judaism! Though we must hate Amalek and kill them, they are allowed to convert; indeed some of their grandchildren became great rabbinical scholars and leaders. How do we understand this paradox?
On the other hand Amon and Moav can never become Jewish because they did not greet us in the desert with bread and water. It seems ironic that they cannot join our nation for a seemingly minor infraction whereas the hated Amalek who wanted to murder us, is in fact, able to join us should they desire to convert!?
The essence of Amalek is a world without conscience, a life lacking structure, where every occurrence is random. We conflict their principle with the involvement of Hashem in every aspect of the world. The miracles of the Makot and the splitting of the sea clearly revealed Hashem's total involvement in our lives. That is the total opposite of Amaleks national philosophy. They could not endure with our beliefs intact and therefore needed to eradicate us to ensure their own survival. We too cannot co-exist with an entity that requires our destruction and demise. We are not commanded to hate Amalek as a people rather as the representation of their way of life. However, an individual from Amalek that sees the truth and wishes to leave the false ideology is welcome to convert.
The nature of Amon and Moav are simply evil. They had no reason to deprive the Jews from bread and water in the desert other than plain cruelty. Even further, our grandfather Avraham saved their ancestor Lot more than once. Avraham came to Lot's aid during the battle of the four kings against the five kings and again during the destruction of Sedom. Now as the children, the nations of Amon and Moav had not a shred of gratitude and denied the children of Israel their basic needs. This attribute is diametrically opposed to Judaism. The three main characteristics of a Jew are “rachmanim, beishunim, and gomlei chasadim”. By ignoring their need to return favor to the Jewish nation and displaying a severe streak of cruelty, the nations of Amon and Moav, though not hated, can never be a part of our merciful kindhearted people.
What is fascinating to understand is the distinction between hatred and indifference. Hatred is passionate and while it is dangerous, it is an emotion with life and hope if it is channeled correctly. Indifference is a sentiment of emptiness. When a relationship has reached indifference it is devoid of feeling and there is no hope for revival. Do not be alarmed from hate; rather channel it and use its energy. Indifference is dreaded; avoid it at all cost as it is the call of death.
