Portion of the Portion

Our Relationship with Amalek & Yitro

Thirty days before the holiday one learns the laws of the holiday - SH’LOSHIM YOM LIFNEI HAREGEL DORSHIM B’HILCHOT HACHAG (P’sachim 6a). In that case, since TU Bishvat is behind us, it would be appropriate to start learning about Purim. But what does this week’s portion of Yitro have to do with Purim? How can we tie in this week’s Torah verses to the story and rules of Purim?

Actually there is some connection. The portion begins with the story of Yitro - how he brought Moshe’s wife and children to join the Jewish nation in the desert and how he advised Moshe on an efficient way to govern the nation. But some of the commentators question the placement of this story at this point in the Torah (Ramban). They feel that it is not in chronological order. According to them, Yitro did not come before the giving of the Torah, but after it. In that case why is this story written where it is in the Torah?

We do know that there is a theory EIN MUKDAM UM-UCHAR BATORAH - that sometimes things in the Torah are written out of chronological order. But when that happens there must be a reason why. So why would this story of Yitro coming to the Jews in the desert be written out of historical sequence?
We can find an answer by looking backwards at last week’s portion of B’SHALACH. The portion ended with the story of the battle of AMALEK against the Jewish nation. We actually can find some hints of a connection in similar words that are used in relating both events - In the story of Amalek it says “Y’DEI MOSHE K’VEIDIM (17:12) and here it says “KI KAVED MIMCHA HADAVAR (18:18) There it said “B’CHAR LANU ANASHIM (17:9) and here it says “VAYIVCHAR MOSHE ANSHEI CHAYIL (18:25) So what is the connection?

Amalek came from behind and attacked the weakest part of the nation. They showed utter contempt for G-d and his people, Israel. This week’s portion begins, on the other hand, with the story of Yitro joining the Jewish nation and even helping them by giving Moshe good advice. IBN EZRA explains that the Torah had a message to teach when placing the episode of Yitro next to that of Amalek. The Torah described in detail the wickedness of Amalek and told us that we have an obligation to wipe out their memory and this is a perpetual fight in every generation “KI MILCHAMA LASHEM B’AMALEK DOR DOR (17:16)
We have an obligation to wipe out Amalek in every generation - but we must not get carried away and destroy all non-Jews in the process. Some non-Jews are kind to us and help us. That’s why the Torah juxtaposes the story of Amalek to that of Yitro. Yitro came of his own will to be with the Jewish people. He was happy for us for all the goodness that Hashem had done for us - “VAYI- CHAD YITRO AL KOL HATOVA ASHER ASA HASHEM L’YISRAEL (18:9) Yitro even gave Moshe good helpful advice that Moshe implemented. Yitro was different from Amalek. He was on our side. Especially since we are obligated to continue the battle against Amalek, the story of Yitro is told here. We are not allowed to forget the kindness of Yitro. His descendants happen to have lived close to Amalek during the time of Shaul the King. Shaul, before attacking Amalek, warns the KEINI (descendants of Yitro) that because of a CHESED - a goodness that they (Yitro) had done, they should move away from Amalek so they wouldn’t be destroyed with them - “LECHU SURU R’DU MITOCH AMELEKI PEN OSIF’CHA IMO” Shmuel I 15:6).

The message of these two episodes being next to each other is that not every “goy” is like the other. There are righteous gentiles who hid Jews like my father-in-law during the war and there are those who want to destroy us physically, like Hamas and spiritually like missionaries who come to Israel. It is up to us to decipher who is friend and who is foe and then act accordingly.

Since it is still in the year of losing my father I would like to say a word L’ILUYI NISHMAT Kalman ben Meir quoted from my cousin Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld from the National Synagogue in Washington DC, who visited his grave this past Motzaei Shabbat and quoted from this week’s portion - Yitro told Moshe (18:21) to seek out “capable G-d-fearing men, men of truth, who hate injustice.” Rabbi Herzfeld said that my father was such a person.
Amalek , came from Gobolitis and Petra to the north of Sinai. Here is a recipe for Manakish which would be served in that area - it is a dough topped with cheese or meat or zaatar. It is similar to pizza.

MANAKISH WITH THYME (Zaatar)

1/2 package active dry yeast
1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cup warm water
1/2 tsp salt
Topping:
1 cup dried thyme (zaatar)
1 Tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
3 Tbsps olive oil

Whisk together the yeast, 1 tablespoon of flour and cup warm water and let stand until mixture develops a creamy foam - about 10 minutes. If mixture does not foam, throw out and start over with new yeast.

Next, stir together the salt and 3/4 cups flour, add yeast mixture and rest of water. Stir until smooth, then mix in another 1/2 cup flour. If dough sticks to your fingers, stir in just enough flour to make the dough start to pull away from the side of the bowl. (This dough may be wetter than Italian pizza dough that is more familiar.

Knead the dough. Keep surface and hands floured when dough becomes too sticky. Work the dough about 10 minutes -until it is smooth, soft and elastic. Form dough into a ball, then generously dust with flour and put in a medium bowl. Cover and let rise till doubled in size; about 1 to 1-1/4 hours.

While dough is rising, combine thyme and sesame seeds (optional) and olive oil to form a paste.

Place fully risen dough on a floured surface, and press down to form a round shape. Spread with the zaatar mixture and bake at 350 for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the dough is crispy and brown. Serve warm.

• Other Portion of the Portion
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• The Women in Sh'mot
• Fanatic? Who Me?