Parashat Zakhor
There is a Torah obligation to remember Amalek’s attempt to destroy the Jewish people. This obligation must be fulfilled once a year. Ḥazal instituted that this mitzvah be fulfilled on the Shabbat before Purim due to the connection between Haman and Amalek.
Due to the nature of this obligation, however, there are a variety of manners in which it can be fulfilled.
- One can fulfill their obligation by listening to Parashat Zakhor when it is read from the Torah in its usual location, the end of Parashat Ki Tetze (Deut. 25:17–19), which will be read this year on Shabbat, 21 August. If you are confident you will be in shul then you can wait until that point (though I caution against such a risk-laden choice).
- One can fulfill their obligation by attending the Torah reading on Purim day itself, which recounts the battle waged by Amalek against the Jewish people.
- One can listen to Parashat Zakhor being read from a Torah scroll via Zoom. This Sunday @ ~9:15 AM we will have a Zoom Zakhor. A link will be sent out at 8:30 AM on Sunday and the Zoom info is in the Bimah Notes email.
- Alternatively, if people are uncomfortable coming to shul but would like to hear Zakhor read in person, they can contact me, and I will read it for them at the shul during the week.
- There is a debate as to whether or not women are obligated in hearing Zakhor. While the general custom has been to follow those opinions that believe women are equally obligated – and, in a normal year where the opportunity to fulfill the obligation is relatively effortless, this is encouraged – the majority position is that women are exempt from Zakhor.
