Q&A: Amalek
Amalek
Question
Hello and blessings!
What is the difference between our attitude toward Amalek and, to make a distinction, racist ideology?
When I asked this to several rabbis, they argued that according to Maimonides they have free choice, and if they make peace with us there is no reason to harm them, so it is not similar to racist ideology. But in my opinion one should not ignore the fact that at least according to Rashi (in the portion of Ki Tetze, if I remember correctly) and according to Rabbi Eliezer in the Mekhilta, that is not the case.
If so, what fault is it of a present-day Amalekite son (if there is such a person) that his forefathers went to war against us? All the Hasidic teachings about how they are the root of evil, etc., really remind me of racist ideology.
Answer
Why choose the harsher views if you can choose more reasonable ones?
Beyond that, if the Holy One, blessed be He, determined the matter, then this is not a human decision that stems from racism.
Discussion on Answer
The Amalekite did do something. My assumption is that Amalek is a nation that educates all its children toward war and murder. If they told you to kill all the Nazis (including children, who are educated in the Hitler Youth and grow up to be Nazis and murderers), would you also ask this question?
Isn't it still a bit harsh toward their children? Those 3-year-olds?
I agree that maybe the comparison to racist ideology is not correct, but where is the person's free choice? Why should we be obligated to kill an Amalekite who did nothing at all? What is the logic in that? Is that justice?