Remembrance....Is it a Cup Filled with Wine or Vinegar?....And a Tribute to Max Neiden

Today is the Shabbat before Purim, commonly known as Shabbat Zachor.  We read a section from the second Torah this morning which tells us to remember what Amalek did when we were in the wilderness.  The word, Zachor, which means remember, is used in two very different contexts in the Torah.  The first is to remember the evils that Amalek perpetrated against our ancestors.  The second is to remember Shabbat and keep it holy (Shamor v’zachor et yom haShabbat).

The question was asked of the Lubavitcher Rebbe how that same word, Zachor, could be used in two such opposing contexts.  Remembering the Shabbat alludes to the idea that we recognize that G-d exists and want to act according to G-d’s will.  Remembering Amalek alludes to the idea that G-d exists but rebelling against G-d’s will is indeed a possibility.  When Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson dealt with this question, he spoke about two cups, one filled with wine and one filled with vinegar.  The cups are both cups, the contents both come from grapes, but one is drinkable and the other is not (although we often try to do so at our Kiddush here!).  We can see that zachor, remembrance can be used in two ways.  To remember the positive actions and thoughts that fill this world and to remember the negative actions and thoughts that attempt to conceal the positive actions of justice and righteousness that reflect G-d’s presence in the world.

These days, it is important for us to Remember Amalek, the cup filled with vinegar. He was seen as the precursor to Haman and to individuals like Hitler who gathered an audience with the divisive and hateful language he used.  As we witness our own political arena prior to our presidential elections, we must not assume that it is okay to ignore the hateful rhetoric that is being spewed now because it will just miraculously disappear in the future.  We must not ignore the attempts to divide this country and take us back to the days we experienced before the struggles for equality and decency as rights for each human being prevailed.  We must remember Amalek so we act to ensure that there is no possibility that dark actions will overtake us ever again.

On this particular Shabbat, which focuses on Remembrance, we are also going to focus on remembering the deeds of Max Neiden who is celebrating his 93^rd birthday with us.  Remembering Max, in my opinion, is like filling the cup with wine not vinegar. Max proved himself to be a hero during World War II because he successfully landed a plane that had been shot by Nazi ground artillery on the 4^th of July 1944, saving the lives of nine men. He had never flown a plane before but rose to the occasion when he realized that the pilot had been injured.   He has proved his loyalty to this congregation, having served as a trustee for many years, always attending Shabbat and holiday services, and supporting all of our programming.  He has proved that it is possible to communicate love and concern to his family and friends even when words do not flow easily from his tongue.  He has proved that it is possible to maintain interest in life and passion for continuing right actions even when age creeps up on your body, making it less easy to get around.  Max, we admire you, love you, and are grateful for your presence in our midst.  We thank you for wanting to share your birthday with us and are indeed feeling blessed that we are here to do so today, on this Shabbat of Remembrance, Shabbat Zachor.  Ad meah v’ esrim in good health.

Shabbat Shalom.