Q&A: Remembrance in the Torah
Remembrance in the Torah
Question
Hello Rabbi, my question is this: when the Torah speaks about remembering, is it referring to the mental state that we mean today by that word, or is it referring to something a bit different? I got the impression in several contexts that when the Torah commands us to remember, it is always accompanied by some specific action. But ordinarily, I can also remember simply by thinking about it, and the action itself would seemingly be unnecessary. For example, “Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it,” or the remembrance of Amalek, which is accompanied by reciting verses, etc.
I would be happy if you could clarify the issue for me.
Answer
Indeed, usually one remembers through an action, or at least through speech. Sometimes this is only the rationale of the verse for a commandment (like tzitzit, to remember the commandments, or commandments that commemorate the Exodus from Egypt), and sometimes that itself is the commandment.
However, regarding the six remembrances in the prayerbook, it seems that the verbal recitation is not required as a matter of strict law:
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