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Conservative Rabbi Compares Islamic Fundamentalists to Amalek
By Steven I. Weiss
March 31, 2006
A prominent Conservative rabbi suggested in a recent Torah commentary
that Islamic fundamentalists be classified as "Amalek", an evil nation
that the Bible marks for extermination.
"I am becoming convinced that Islamic fundamentalism, or, as some
people prefer to call it, Islamo-fascism, is the most dangerous force
that we ever have faced and that it is worthy of the name: Amalek,"
Rabbi Jack Riemer wrote in a sermon that he e-mailed to Conservative
rabbis in advance of the Sabbath, which started February 10.
Riemer is a widely cited author in Conservative circles. In 1998 his
translation of Ecclesiastes was read by President Bill Clinton during
the National Prayer Breakfast.
Amalek is described in the Bible as attacking the wandering Hebrews
from the rear shortly after the Exodus from Egypt. In the Book of
Esther, Haman, the mastermind of a plot to kill all the Jews, is
identified as a descendant of Amalek. Building on such texts, the
ancient rabbis argued that Amalek was driven by an all-consuming, even
self-destructive hatred of the Jewish people.
The Bible commands the Israelites to wage an eternal war against this
enemy nation, calling for the killing of every Amalek "man and woman,
child and infant, ox and sheep."
While the Jewish tradition of comparing oppressive nations to Amalek
is centuries old, many rabbis of the later part of the 20th century
sought to discourage these comparisons, asserting that such
theological classifications calling for genocide were extremely
dangerous following the founding of the State of Israel and the
simultaneous rise of Jewish power and influence worldwide.
"This isn't 1936, and we are no longer powerless," said Rabbi Bradley
Shavit Artson, dean of the Conservative rabbinical school at the
University of Judaism, in an interview with the Forward. "We have a
very powerful democracy in Israel, and as citizens of the United
States and Canada we are part of powerful democracies who are
remarkably sensitive to the survival of the Jewish people and the
State of Israel."
Artson argued that "there is some degree of hysteria in labeling Muslim
radicals as Amalek." He said that it was import to use "different
language to reflect power."
When asked about the sermon, Reimer said that his weekly Torah
commentary is sent only to rabbis so that it can "teach them technique."
"It was written during the height of the hysteria of the Arab rioting"
over the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad and "was probably an
overreaction."
"I think it was a very strong statement and that it reflected a
temporary mood, but I would be hesitant to declare it as a permanent
position," Riemer said. He also said that as a permanent position the
use of the term Amalek would be "dangerous."
In addition, Reimer revealed that he doesn't "want to be classed with
the Jewish bigots who feel this as a systematic deal," but with "the
scholars who are not bigots but notice the similarities."
Riemer said that he probably should have used the term "Amalek-like" and
attributed his original phrasing to what he described as "frustration"
over the current situation in the Muslim world and uncertainty over
how you "fight this kind of enemy."
"One thing I was trying to say is that realism and understanding of
whats on the other side is really necessary," Riemer said. He added
that those Islamic fundamentalists to whom he is referring are "very
bad people, and that the image of Amalek is a useful one to dramatize
and make us conscious of what this is."
In the end, Riemer said, the entire discussion is an academic one
because at least 1,500 years ago, the Talmud ruled that it no longer
was possible to identify a descendant of Amalek. As a result, he said,
it would be forbidden to act on any contemporary comparison to the
ancient nation.
Still, Artson said, such comparisons as Riemers have the chance to
spur people to violence.
"That's why I dont think it's wise," the University of Judaism rabbinical
dean said, adding, "I just think it's almost never helpful, and we've
seen too many instances in the last century of people labeling others
'Amalek.'"