Amalekite Perfectionism

On Shabbat Zachor, we heard the Torah reading on the mitzvah to wipe out the memory of Amalek.

Haman was an Amalekite. At the beginning of Megillat Esther, he is on top of the world, in a most elevated position, but he’s not satisfied. He is second in rank only to the king, an important and influential man. He has a family and many children, yet he says: "But all this is worth nothing to me each time I see Mordechai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

In other words, Haman has oceans of honor but he’s lacking one drop. Everyone bows down to him, but he needs Mordechai to bow down, too. If not, all the honor he has received means nothing.

When we speak about the war with Amalek, we also speak about the war with this tendency – focusing on the one drop we don't have and not on the cup that is half full. In our addiction to pursuing honor, without valuing what we have and finding joy in it, we demonstrate Amalekite qualities.

When we make noise with the graggers upon hearing "Haman," we mean to erase this egoistic perfectionism as well.