SIDRA TETZAVEH

בס"ד
14 Adar


This appeared on the front page of yesterday's Shabbat Tefilagram:

Zachor: Then and Now

This Shabbat's designation as Shabbat Zachor and its special maftir portion about Amalek call us to remember how the people of Amalek treated us as we left Mitzrayim, how they attacked our vulnerability. We read about these events in part to prepare us for Purim, for our antagonist Haman descends from Amalek.

In the past, under Rabbi Singer's leadership, our community has been outspoken about the situation for Jews in modern-day Iran, and how it eerily parallels the Persia of Mordechai and Esther. In fact, Canadian Jewish News declared Rabbi Singer's consciousness-raising three-day fast as one of the Jewish highlights of the year. In a similar vein this year, I received the following message from Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, head of the Rabbinical Council of Canada, concerning Iranian President Ahmadinejad and the cunrrent Iranian regime:

- Ahmadinejad was one of the leaders of the Iran Hostage Crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979.

- Ahmadinejad had a hand in international assassinations, including a 1989 assassination of an exiled Kurdish leader.

- Addressing a cabinet meeting held to discuss the rapidly deteriorating situation at the Tehran Stock Exchange, he told the cabinet that, "If we were to hang two or three persons, the problems with the stock exchange would be solved for ever."

- He is committed to destroying Israel: "Our dear Imam (referring to Ayatollah Khomeini) said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map, and this was a very wise statement."

- He denies the Holocaust: "They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets. The West has given more significance to the myth of the genocide of the Jews, even more significant than God, religion, and the prophets."

- And now he is working on a nuclear bomb! This man must be stopped. On Purim, March 14th, we will read the Megillah in front of the Iranian embassy to remind this modern-day Haman that we will not stop until he is silenced. Please encourage others around the world to gather in front of Iranian embassies around the world on Purim as well.

Tzom kal - an easy fast - to everyone tomorrow!




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