Remembering Shabbat and Amalek

The Shabbat before Purim is called Shabbat Zachor (“remember”), because our Sages instituted the reading of the mitzva to remember Amalek specifically on this Shabbat, since Haman was a descendant of Amalek.  This annual reading actually fulfills the obligation to remember Amalek.

The Midrash connects the mitzva of remembering Amalek and Shabbat, noting that in each instance the Torah uses the word zachor.

Sfat Emet explains that the Midrash goes beyond the simple fact of finding the same word used in both mitzvot to pointing out a deep connection between Shabbat and remembering Amalek. Amalek attacked Israel before the Torah was given, in an attempt to prevent us from accepting the Torah. The essence of accepting Torah is reuniting with our spiritual roots, explains Sfat Emet. Shabbat, as the day of spiritual rest, allows us to retreat from the distractions of the workweek and focus on this reunion with our spiritual roots. Thus, the zachor of Shabbat is indeed connected to the zachor of Amalek, and the two remembrances are interrelated. Each Shabbat carries with it a small portion of wiping out Amalek, which is proportional to the extent of Shabbat observance among the People of Israel.

There is an additional aspect which Sfat Emet points out. Amalek was able to attack Israel because of its lack of unity. Amalek attacked the Israelites at Rephidim, which our Sages understood symbolically as meaning disunited. When Israel is united, it is not vulnerable to the power of Amalek. Shabbat (ideally) provides the unity which protects Israel from Amalek.