Shabbat Zachor
On the Shabbat before Purim, we take out two Sifrei Torah. We read the weekly portion in the first and Parashat Zachor in the second:
"
Remember what Amalek did to you..." (Devarim 25:17-19).
What is the connection between erasing the memory of Amalek and Purim?
The wicked Haman, who intended to destroy all the Jews in one day and claim their spoils, was the descendant of Agag who was the king of Amalek in the time of King Shaul. Thus we know that Hamman was an Amalekite. This is why our sages ordained carrying out the commandment of remembering to erase the memory of Amalek before Purim. "Remember... do not forget!" Why? we are told to remember what Amalek did to us when we had just left Egypt, and not to forget what Amalek threatened to do in the time of Achashverosh.
We read the Haftara from Shmuel 1, chapter 15, which tells about Shaul's war with Amalek.
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