<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><span style="font-family: ArialMT;" class="">The word Zachor appears 4 times in the Torah.</span><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">The <u class=""><b class="">first</b></u> is Sh’mos (13:3) which tells us to remember</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">the Exodus from Egypt constantly, every day.</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">The <u class=""><b class="">second</b></u> is Sh’mos (20:8) commanding us to remember</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">the Sabbath day.</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">The <b class="">third</b> is D’vorim (24:9) reminding what God did to Miriam</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">for slandering her brother, Moshe.</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">And the <u class=""><b class="">fourth</b></u> is D’vorim (25:17) commanding us to remember</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">what Amalek did to you.</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">A strange coincidence that Zachor is used for seemingly disparate</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">situations. Remember Amalek; remember the Sabbath; remember</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">the departure from Egypt and remember what happens when you </div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">slander and speak lashon hara. </div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">What connection is there between the four? I submit that the zachors</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">used are not only an indication of what is wrong with Jewish life today</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">but means of correcting the situation. Unfortunately, there are too many</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">Jews who are Jews by suffering. Their only relationship with the Jewish</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">people and Jewish life is: <i class="">Zachor es asher oso l’cho Amalek</i>, remembering</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">what Amalek did and the bad things done to the Jewish people. As Heinrich Heine </div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">put it: <i class="">For some Jews, Judaism is not a religion — it is</i> <i class="">a misfortune. </i></div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">If we intend to survive and grow as a people, we need the other zachors — </div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><i class="">Zachor es yom hashabbos;</i> Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. </div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">We must also always recall our history and humble beginnings: </div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><i class="">Zachor es hayom hazeh asher y’tzasem miMitzrayim</i>;</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">Remember this day on which you departed from Egypt. </div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">And finally, without <i class="">menschlechkeit</i>, all of our observances,</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">learning, rituals, etc. are empty, like bodies without souls. </div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">Hence — <i class="">Zachor es asher asa Adonoy Elohecha l’Miryam</i>;</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">Remember what the Lord, your God did to Miriam (on the way,</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">when you were leaving Egypt). Slander, gossip, lashon hara, etc.</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">cause spiritual tzaraas. This 'Zachor' reminds every generation</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;">that life and death are in the power of the tongue.</div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><h1 class="quoteText" style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span class="" style="font-weight: normal;">Elizabeth Elizabeth Bibesco (1897-1945) English Writer</span></h1><div class=""><span class="" style="font-weight: normal;"><br class=""></span></div></div><p style="font-family: ArialMT;" class=""></p><span style="font-family: ArialMT;" class=""></span></body></html>