When Amalek attacked the Jews after the Redemption from Mitzrayim, on the way to Mattan Torah, he was vanquished by the Jews.
But Amalek was unrelenting in his quest to harm the Jews; Almost forty years later he tried again. The Torah states (Chukas 21:1) “When the Canaanite king of Arad heard that the Jews were traveling along . . . he attacked them.” Rashi explains that this was Amalek who disguised himself and changed his language.
Amalek was a master of deception. He was (and is) an insidious enemy of the Jewish people, and everything that is holy.
There is a spiritual Amalek within each and every one of us, and great caution must be taken against his treachery, which we must always remember and eradicate.
Just as it was physically, that Amalek confronted the Jewish people on their way from Egypt to Mattan Torah, similarly, also in the spiritual dimension of Amalek – he opposes everything Torah stands for. Due to his unabated chutzpah and arrogance, he cannot tolerate the pure faith which a Jew has, nor any other values in holiness.
In order to reach his objective, his mode of operation is by injecting a person with “coldness,” apathy and indifference to anything and everything that is holy.
Amalek cannot come to a person and tell him outright not to adhere to the will of Hashem, G-d forbid, because he will surely not listen to him. Therefore he “disguises” his “language” and he speaks like a Jew, so that he not be recognized as Amalek. His deception goes so far that he even presents himself as a ‘grandson’ of Avraham Avinu!
And he speaks to his victim as follows:
“Of course you have to do the will of Hashem, especially taking into account that you are the son of Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov, the daughter of Sarah, Rivkah, Rochel and Leah, and moreover, your soul is “Chelek Elokah” (part of Hashem), so therefore – Amalek concludes – Take it easy! Why the excitement and enthusiasm?! You can perform Torah and mitzvos in a “cold” way – and this coldness becomes the root of all negative things which follow. All evil stems from this initial apathy that Amalek throws at a person.
By accepting Torah and mitzvos with kabbolas ol and pure faith, will bring to the elimination of the physical Amalek through Melech HaMoshiach who will identify and erase him.
Amalek Symbolizes Doubts and Skepticism!
Every Jew has the Shlichus from the Rebbe Nassi Doreinu, to go out to other, less fortunate brethren and teach them about Torah and mitzvos, including of course, to have faith in and anticipate Moshiach!
If anyone doubts if this is actually his Shlichus – this doubt is Amalek at work, attempting to convince a person to “cool off”; Amalek is the numerical value of (the Hebrew word) “soffek” (doubts and skepticism), and we should be aware that this confrontation with Amalek is only in order for us to throw out the doubts and overcome them. This then is the function of Amalek – to provide us with the opportunity of subduing him, and coming to a higher awareness, which is brought out by the challenge that a person struggles with and overpowers.
(Likkutei Sichos v. 29 - Simchas Torah, 5746)
