Securing our Choke Point
Zachor
The strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran is perhaps the most strategic water channel on earth. Over 30% of the worlds oil supply flows through these straits to feed the world economy. At its narrowest point (the choke point), the strait is only 21 miles wide, making it vulnerable to attack. Iran has threatened many times to close the narrow strait to international shipping. This has prompted the United States and other governments to invest considerably to ensure its defense so that it remains open.
The human body also has a choke point, the strait of the neck which connect our head to our heart. This too is an extremely strategic channel. Rather than oil, this channel is a conduit of ideas, inspiration and understanding. They flow from our mind to ignite our heart with emotion and motivation.
In the normal human state, intellectual understanding and reflection creates and directs an emotional response. Our thinking elicits feelings and these feelings in turn inspire and direct our actions. This is when the flow is unobstructed.
Study of and meditation on G-dly concepts should arouse within us feelings of love and awe for Hashem and a desire to connect to Him. These feelings should inspire our behaviours and how we live our life.
Like the straits of Hormuz, the juncture between head and heart is vulnerable to attack by a force which seeks to cut off this flow and choke us spiritually. This force is the Kelipah which sits at the neck, the Kelipah of Amalek.
Chassidus explains that Amalek comprises the words Am Malak, the nation who performs Melikah. Melikah, the special way in which the bird offerings were slaughtered in the Beis Hamikdosh by piercing or severing it at the neck.
How does Amalek operate? Our sages describe Amalek as one who know his Master but intentionally rebels against Him, יודע את רבונו ומכוין למרוד בו.
All of the nations heard of the miracles of the 10 plagues and the splitting of the sea. They were in awe of Hashem’s power and how He supervises and protects His people. They would not dream to attack Bnei Yisroel. But despite seeing all of this, Amalek did attack the Jewish people.
The Kelipah of Amalek is also described as a Chutzpah belo Taam, a Chutzpah with no reason. There is no greater Chutzpah than knowing and understanding what is right and nonetheless doing the complete opposite.
There is a disconnect between the intellectual appreciation and our personal feelings and behaviour - a severing at the neck.
We all suffer from the Amalek syndrome. We learn a Maamer, hear an inspiring shiur or farbrengen, but it remains conceptual and cerebral. We can be proficient in the concepts. But the voice of indifference inside of us cools us off - Don’t get so excited and take it personally. Emotional excitement is down-played and we avoid acting on the inspiration.
The antidote to Amalek is not more meditation and deeper understanding. Amalek knows all of that already, יודע את רבונו. Amalek does not object to the intellectual pursuit. He just won’t let it through to affect how we feel and how we behave.
The only way to secure our choke point is through force; to stand strong with a Chutzpah of Kedusha, a brazen resolve that come-what-may we will do what Hashem wants of us, because that is how it has to be. This super-rational stance is Mesiras Nefesh and it comes from a deeper place than intellect
This was the response of the Jewish people when faced with the gezeira of Haman, Amalek’s descendant. And this is how have to fight our battle with Amalek, until Moshiach comes and the seed of Amalek and all negativity will be erased forever.
The human body also has a choke point, the strait of the neck which connect our head to our heart. This too is an extremely strategic channel. Rather than oil, this channel is a conduit of ideas, inspiration and understanding. They flow from our mind to ignite our heart with emotion and motivation.
In the normal human state, intellectual understanding and reflection creates and directs an emotional response. Our thinking elicits feelings and these feelings in turn inspire and direct our actions. This is when the flow is unobstructed.
Study of and meditation on G-dly concepts should arouse within us feelings of love and awe for Hashem and a desire to connect to Him. These feelings should inspire our behaviours and how we live our life.
Like the straits of Hormuz, the juncture between head and heart is vulnerable to attack by a force which seeks to cut off this flow and choke us spiritually. This force is the Kelipah which sits at the neck, the Kelipah of Amalek.
Chassidus explains that Amalek comprises the words Am Malak, the nation who performs Melikah. Melikah, the special way in which the bird offerings were slaughtered in the Beis Hamikdosh by piercing or severing it at the neck.
How does Amalek operate? Our sages describe Amalek as one who know his Master but intentionally rebels against Him, יודע את רבונו ומכוין למרוד בו.
All of the nations heard of the miracles of the 10 plagues and the splitting of the sea. They were in awe of Hashem’s power and how He supervises and protects His people. They would not dream to attack Bnei Yisroel. But despite seeing all of this, Amalek did attack the Jewish people.
The Kelipah of Amalek is also described as a Chutzpah belo Taam, a Chutzpah with no reason. There is no greater Chutzpah than knowing and understanding what is right and nonetheless doing the complete opposite.
There is a disconnect between the intellectual appreciation and our personal feelings and behaviour - a severing at the neck.
We all suffer from the Amalek syndrome. We learn a Maamer, hear an inspiring shiur or farbrengen, but it remains conceptual and cerebral. We can be proficient in the concepts. But the voice of indifference inside of us cools us off - Don’t get so excited and take it personally. Emotional excitement is down-played and we avoid acting on the inspiration.
The antidote to Amalek is not more meditation and deeper understanding. Amalek knows all of that already, יודע את רבונו. Amalek does not object to the intellectual pursuit. He just won’t let it through to affect how we feel and how we behave.
The only way to secure our choke point is through force; to stand strong with a Chutzpah of Kedusha, a brazen resolve that come-what-may we will do what Hashem wants of us, because that is how it has to be. This super-rational stance is Mesiras Nefesh and it comes from a deeper place than intellect
This was the response of the Jewish people when faced with the gezeira of Haman, Amalek’s descendant. And this is how have to fight our battle with Amalek, until Moshiach comes and the seed of Amalek and all negativity will be erased forever.