[Avodah] amalek

[Eli Turkel]

>From an article in the YU commentator that just appeared, by Shmuel Boylan

"I last spoke to the Rav after he had retired from the yeshiva and was
living in relative seclusion in Boston with his daughter and
son-in-law. Once again, access to the Rav was restricted, due to his
illness and infirmity-but this time, I was successful, and was granted
entry. The Rav was frailer than I remembered him. I first asked the
Rav about an opinion he had quoted from his father, zt"l, that a
nation (such as the Nazis) could be transformed into Amalek; I asked
whether such a halakhic designation would then have implications with
regard to innocent wives and children, as well. The Rav strongly
rejected such a concept, reminding me that the Rambam required an
approach for shalom prior to milkhemet Amalek-and that such a
requirement made action against innocent parties impossible. I then
asked the Rav for a brachah for my son (now a Sh'oel U'Meishev in the
Brisker Kollel), which he graciously granted. Such was my effort, on a
personal level, to ensure that the Rav's blessing would be carried
over to the next generation."

-- 
Eli Turkel