parsha bit: Ki Teitze

[cellio]

Our parsha reminds us to remember what Amalek did to Israel. What was the great wrong that Amalek did? The rabbis draw the following analogy: There is a pool of scalding water that people fear to step into, but a simpleton comes along and jumps in. He is scalded, but what people see is that the pool might not be as dangerous as it looked. Similarly, until Amalek attacked, Israel was like the pool -- after the exodus from Egypt and God's splitting of the sea, none dared attack. After Amalek attacked, even though he was scalded, Israel was perceived by other nations as being weaker (like a lukewarm pool) and they felt enpowered to attack. (Tanchuma Ki Teitze 9)

Comments

[zevabe.livejournal.com]

The version of this midrash that I heard included the basic principle of physics that not only does the water seem cooler because someone else jumped in, but it will actually be cooler, because heat gets used in scalding him, so the water will be a lower temperature.

[nsingman.livejournal.com]

I'd never heard that explanation before. I'm afraid it doesn't change my mind regarding God's exhortation to genocide (and why the children and animals?), but it certainly is interesting.