Zachor: Never Forgotten

The Haftorah of Parshat Zachor (Shmuel I 15) recounts Shmuel HaNavi’s command to Shaul HaMelech to destroy Amalek, a nation defined by its cruelty and unprovoked attack on Bnei Yisrael as they emerged from Egypt. Amalek’s evil is eternal, and we are mandated never to forget their treachery. Yet within this Haftorah, a contrasting group emerges—the children of Keini, descendants of Yisro, who are remembered for their kindness.

This contrast is no coincidence. The Torah itself places Yisro and Amalek side by side: at the end of Parshat Beshalach, Amalek attacks, rejecting Hashem’s presence in the world. Immediately afterward, in Parshat Yisro, Yisro arrives, declaring, "Now I know that Hashem is greater than all gods" (Shemot 18:11). Amalek denies; Yisro affirms. Amalek embodies cruelty and chaos, while Yisro embodies recognition and alignment with Hashem.

And yet, both are eternally linked to memory. We are commanded "Zachor"—to never forget Amalek’s evil. But we also see that kindness, too, is remembered. Before waging war, Shaul HaMelech warns the Keinites to leave, telling them: "You did kindness with all Bnei Yisrael" (Shmuel I 15:6). What was this kindness that extended to all of Bnei Yisrael?

According to Midrash Tanchuma (Yisro 6), Yisro’s recognition of Hashem’s greatness was an act of validation. When he declared "Blessed is Hashem, Who has saved you" (Shemot 18:10), he was not merely expressing personal belief—he was affirming the truth of what Bnei Yisrael had experienced. His words reinforced that their faith was not misplaced, that the wonders they had witnessed were indeed transformative. This validation was a kindness to the entire nation.

This act of kindness was not forgotten—it ultimately saved the Keini family generations later. Just as Amalek’s evil is never forgotten, neither is the goodness of Yisro and his descendants. Both leave an eternal imprint, but while Amalek’s memory is one of destruction, Yisro’s is one of devotion and commitment.

We are charged to remember Amalek’s evil, but Yisro’s legacy teaches that kindness, too, endures. As we fulfill the mitzvah of Zachor, we must not only guard against destruction but also amplify those who affirm Hashem’s presence and uplift others.